Parsnips reward patience above almost any other root crop — most of their flavour only develops after a frost.
Parsnips are a slow-growing root that need fresh seed each year, since parsnip seed loses viability fast and old seed germinates poorly. Their flavour is famously improved by a touch of frost, so there’s no rush to lift them in autumn.
Sowing & growing calendar
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | Sow in February | Sow in March | Sow in April | |||||||||
| Harvest | Harvest in January | Harvest in September | Harvest in October | Harvest in November | Harvest in December |
Care details
- Sow February – April
Sow direct with fresh seed — they dislike being transplanted.
- Harvest September – January
Leave in the ground until after the first frost — it sweetens the flavour.
Growing tips & common problems
- Always use fresh seed each year; parsnip seed loses viability fast and old seed germinates poorly, if at all.
- Sow a couple of seeds per station and thin to the strongest, since germination can be patchy.
- Leave roots in the ground over winter and lift as needed, rather than storing them once dug.
Grows well with
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