Growing Parsnip

Pastinaca sativa : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S S S                
        T              
        P P            

(Best months for growing Parsnip in USA - Zone 7a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 6°C and 21°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 8 - 10 cm apart
  • Harvest in 17-20 weeks. Best flavour if harvested after a frost..
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Swiss Chard (Silverbeet), Capsicum, Peas, Potatoes, Beans, Radishes, Garlic
  • Avoid growing close to: Carrot, Celery, Brassicas

Your comments and tips

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02 May 16, Tony (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Ok I'm going to give parsnips some serious attention this year - I love 'em! I live on sub-tropical North Coast NSW How worried do I have to be about stones/compost twiggy bits etc in my soil? I have dug down 30cm and sieved the soil to 5 mm - but there are still some gritty bits -do i have to go to flyscreen to get rid of the stoney bits? very tedious sieving- I'm thinking of using equal parts soil/compost - both sieved to 5mm. Any responses gratefully received
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24 Sep 16, Barbara (Australia - temperate climate)
I live below the Range at Toowoomba and see plants I have "killed" in my garden growing out of the gravel in the excavations so I no longer worry about that sort of thing as water and nutrients are the important things. Strong roots will go around or even into gravel etc. I make wicking beds [google or you-tube for info], I put bones, a layer of veggie scraps and finely crushed egg shell after the first layer of soil, by the time roots have got down 25 cm. it is a slow release fertilizer.
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27 Apr 16, Richard (Australia - temperate climate)
how do you harvest on medium sized scale
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30 Mar 16, Holly (Australia - temperate climate)
hey just wondering when are parsnips in season
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22 Mar 16, Francine (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Just want to know which month is the best time to plant parsnips. Here in the Free state, can I still plant parsnips now, or do I have to wait till after winter time?
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17 Aug 15, Norman Dunn (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
Is the parsnip widely grown in the USA and where is it mostly popular. Thank you
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25 Feb 15, Josie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi I buy my seeds on bidorbuy from lavenerhaven. They have a great selection. Also try livingseeds.co.za also fabulous collection. Hope that helps.
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27 Oct 13, barb gilbert (Canada - Zone 6a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
My parsnips taste great. However they are about 3 inches across and 3 inches long. Then this is where it gets strange There is all these 3 or 4 inches long about 1/2 inch around shoots coming off it. What went wrong?
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29 May 16, tash (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
possibly too much nutrient in the soil. with carrots if they are over fertilised they dont have to send their root down as far to collect nutrients and so tend to grow outwards to collect nutrients fed from above... try growing them in a bed after a heavy feeder perhaps...
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20 Jul 13, Chris Rault (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Those looking for Parsnip seeds, checkout these sites: www.organicseed.co.za www.seedsforafrica.co.za/ www.soughtafterseedlings.co.za I placed an order on Organic Seeds and Seeds for Africa on Monday and both orders arrived yesterday :) Yay for Parsnips!
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