The Short Answer
Growing parsnips is a slow job with a sweet payoff. These pale roots thrive in cool weather and actually improve in flavor after a good frost.1
They need a long growing season and are best harvested after a few autumn frosts.1 If you plant them too late in the season, the roots will be small.1
Meet the Parsnip
Parsnips go by the botanical name Pastinaca sativa.1 This often overlooked vegetable is worth a spot in your garden.2 It has a nutty yet sweet flavor.2
Growing parsnips through the cool season enables you to have consistent vegetables year-round.2 They are also cold hardy and deer-resistant.1
Growing Parsnips Step by Step
If you've never grown parsnips from seed before, you're in for a treat.7 Work through these steps in order.
- Pick a site. Parsnips take full sun or partial sun.1 Aim for neutral soil.1
- Allow space. Plants reach 1–3 feet tall and spread 1–3 feet wide.1 Plan your row spacing around that mature size.
- Sow in good time. If parsnips are planted too late in the season, their roots will be small.1 Check your seed packet and local garden advice for sowing dates in your area.
- Be patient. The seeds are notoriously slow to germinate, and the plants grow slowly.6
- Water with care. Parsnips have moderate water needs.1 Check the soil often through the season.
- Count the days. From sowing to harvesting, it can take anywhere between 160 and 200 days.6 Plan for the bed to be busy that whole time.
Harvesting Parsnips
Wait for a few autumn frosts before you dig.1 Frost is your friend here, because parsnips actually improve in flavor after a good frost.1
This long-lasting root vegetable provides a reliable source of fresh produce during the colder months.2 That makes it a handy crop for a cool-season bed.
In the Kitchen
Roast them on a tray, mash them into a purée, blend them into soups, or even pickle them.2 They pair well with flavors like nutmeg or citrus.2
Swap them in for carrots or potatoes in many dishes, which helps stretch a grocery budget.2 Before sugar cane became widely available, people used parsnips as a sweetener.2
Mistakes to Avoid
- Planting too late. If parsnips are planted too late in the season, their roots will be small.1
- Digging too soon. Parsnips are best harvested after a few fall frosts.1
- Giving up early. The seeds are notoriously slow to germinate.6
- Crowding the bed. Plants can spread 1–3 feet.1
Safety First
Keep children and pets away from treated areas until the label says it is safe.
Check local rules before using anything that could wash into streams or drains.
Quick-Reference Checklist
- Pick a spot with full sun or partial sun and neutral soil.1
- Allow room for plants that reach 1–3 feet tall and wide.1
- Sow in good time, because late planting means small roots.1
- Expect slow seeds and 160 to 200 days from sowing to harvesting.6
- Give moderate water.1
- Wait for a few autumn frosts before digging.1
- Roast, mash, blend or pickle your roots.2