Growing Parsnip

Pastinaca sativa : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

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

(Best months for growing Parsnip in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • 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 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
10 Aug 12, adam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
You twist the leaves off when you dig them up to eat. It stops them going rubbery. Not while they're still growing.
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09 Jun 11, Meg (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I would like to grow parsnips on a large scale any suggestions?
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28 Apr 11, (Australia - tropical climate)
I wish to grow parsnips on a larger scale like market gardenening... any suggestions?
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11 Sep 10, angela seeckts (Australia - temperate climate)
Strange shaped parsnips and in the same garden bed, cauliflowers with leaves only. Can you tell me why?
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12 Jul 14, Yuri (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Too much nitrogen
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13 Sep 10, Kit (Australia - temperate climate)
My parsnips are a little undersized but ok. My Cauliflowers are leaves only as well. Anyone got any ideas? -Kit Houston
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18 Jan 12, Derek (Australia - temperate climate)
Sounds likes excess nitrogen. Carrots and parsnip will split and deform with a lot of nitrogen in soil. Fruit/flowering plants including cauliflowers will produce a lot of foliage with nitrogen. Try to reduce heavy nitrogen based fertiliser for fruiting, flowering and root veg.
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11 Jun 10, Matty (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Just harvested a great crop of parsnips, it helps to grow them in well drained soil, (keep the water up to them) and in raised garden beds are ideal.
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19 Mar 10, Peter G (Australia - temperate climate)
I now grow my seedlings in 3-4 inch pots.Take a stryropor brocolli box,cut off to make it about 4-5 inchs high. place in pots, sieve in and around to fill all spaces. mix ; mush compost, my own compost and garden soil in equal proportions. always keep moist and best covered until germination. plant out when roots poke through base of pot.result, good even rows, no gaps. when planting , add your choice of fertiliser in base of hole, cover a little and back fill with your best growing soil.It is worth the trouble Thanks Muddy knees - who also has his own method of transplanting.Have not tried it with parsnip , but I know it will work!
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29 Dec 09, Bill Marshall (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have difficulty getting parsnips to germinate - can you help me
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Showing 41 - 50 of 63 comments
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Parsnip germination?? Has vexed me for the last 2 years.. I have tried soaking them in water overnight but no apparent advantage.. I've taken to only use fresh seed and to plant half the pack at a time ( see other's comments). Pretty hopeless trying during hot/warm weather, for me the "shoulder" months like autumn & spring offer the best balance between moisture and warmth. I have a well structured seed raising tub just for these and carrots. I've read where you should not try transplanting either of these but I have no problems doing so.. Carrots are a little flukey with it as you get the odd misshapen root ( probably not transplanted neatly enough.. bent root.. happens..) but at least my carrot rows are complete and all at the same stage. As mentioned by others.. watch the soil texture and composition..carrots are the fusspots of root crops.. Parsnips on the other hand transplant famously. I've never lost one and the roots grow true.. It's frosty down here in Central Vic but the snips are bounding ahead.. Germination time during cold months anything from 3 -6 weeks.. you just have to keep watching and moving them when at the 3-4 leaf stage.. Hope this helps..

- MuddyKnees

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