Growing Parsnip

Pastinaca sativa : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

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

Not recommended for growing in USA - Zone 5a regions

  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 43°F and 70°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 3 - 4 inches 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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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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29 Mar 13, Anne (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I love Parsnips but have found that one is unable to buy the seed in SA except maybe at a farmers coop in bulk I have family in the UK and have had them send me seeds but am told the seeds do not have a long shelf life so best to let one or two go to seed and replant from them.
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31 Mar 13, Gaynor Portsmouth (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi Give www.soughtafterseedlings.co.za a go - I have order many seeds from them that I've not been able to get at the local nursery. Enjoy Gaynor
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03 Mar 13, Marilynn Bezuidenhout (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
My daughter brought me seeds from UK & they grew quite well after a few teething problems, not knowing the seeds at all. Now I have for the past 3 years been trying to buy parsnip seeds in SA & just cannot find any. Please where can I get & which seed firm packs them? In the Rustenburg area where I live, parsnips are not easy to find for cooking either.
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21 Feb 16, Egon Laursen (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi Marilynn You can get parsnip seeds from Kirchhoffs seeds also try www.ballstraathof.co.za 011 7942316
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21 Feb 13, ian hurst (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
where can I buy seeds in the western province?
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02 Mar 13, Louise (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
For heirloom seeds you can contact the Gravel Garden. details below www.thegravelgarden.co.za 208 Irene ave Somerset West
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04 Nov 12, santa best (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
where can i get parsnip seeds live in barberton area?
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11 Oct 12, Susan Myburgh (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Where in South Africa can I buy parsnips seed or teh carrots?
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Showing 61 - 70 of 104 comments
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Hey Bianca, Yeah unfortunately parsnips need a long cool season to grow at their best, and your question makes sense. I'm in far north nsw and we just make sure to plant them as soon as night temps get consistently below 14C (usually around end April/beginning May) and harvest them before night temps are consistently above 14C (usually late September). They also start to flower around this time so we get them out before that happens too. Saving seeds of the last plants to flower is a good idea so that you can eventually have more heat-tolerant parsnips in future. So basically the earlier you can get them in the better, but not too early! haha. I think the planting times are set as they are because it's when the weather is safely cool enough in ALL subtropical regions but yeah I reckon just go with the conditions of your micro-climate. Hope that helps. Ben

- Ben

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