Parsnips thrive in cool weather and actually improve in flavor after a good frost.1 They also need a long growing season, so growing parsnips is a plan-ahead crop.1
Parsnips are a root crop similar to carrots, with a flavor that is rich and slightly sweet.3 Their botanical name is Pastinaca sativa.3
Meet the Parsnip
Parsnips are popular root vegetables, and you can choose from a range of varieties.5 They are also cold hardy and deer-resistant, which suits a garden that gets cold nights or wandering wildlife.1
The nutty, sweet flavor is the reward for your patience.1
Growing Parsnips: Site and Soil
Give your parsnips full sun to partial sun, moderate water, and soil with a neutral pH.1 Plan to treat them much like your other root vegetables.6
When to Plant
Timing is the biggest decision. Parsnips need a long growing season, and if they are planted too late in the season, their roots will be small.1
Parsnips are winter vegetables that like cool weather, and they can take as long as 180 days to mature.6 Sow early enough in the season to give the roots time to size up.1
Harvesting Parsnips
Parsnips are best harvested after a few fall frosts.1 The cold is not a problem for them, because their flavor improves after a good frost.1
Resist the urge to dig them early. A rushed harvest means missing the sweetness that frost brings.1
Common Mistakes
- Planting too late, which leaves you with small roots.1
- Expecting a quick crop, when parsnips can take as long as 180 days to mature.6
- Harvesting before the first few fall frosts, when the roots are not at their best.1
Using Your Harvest
Parsnips can turn common meals like soups and stews into something special.3 They also work well in a roasted root vegetable medley.3
For a quick side dish, cut parsnips into thin strips and toss them into a skillet of heated oil.3 Keep children and pets well away from the hot stove while you cook.
Quick-Reference Checklist
- Choose a spot with full to partial sun and neutral soil pH.1
- Water moderately.1
- Treat parsnips much like your other root vegetables.6
- Sow early so the roots are not small.1
- Allow up to 180 days for the crop to mature.6
- Wait for a few fall frosts before you harvest.1
- Roast them, add them to soups and stews, or fry thin strips.3