Melinda Myers

Parsnip

Botanical Name

Pastinaca sativa

Height

2 to 3 feet

Width

6 to 12 inches

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil

Moist, well-drained, fertile, well prepared and loose (free of stones and clumps)

Planting & Care

• Plant seed in early April or May when soil temperatures reaches 50°F
• Seeds are slow to germinate - taking up to 2 to 3 weeks (longer with cold temperatures)
• Sow seeds ¹/₂ to ³/₄ inch deep in rows 18 to 24 inches apart
• Seed thickly since germination can be spotty, sow seeds 2 to 3 per inch
• Keep soil moist to speed germination
• Sow along with radish seeds every foot to break the soil crust and mark the row
• Thin to 3 to 4 inch spacing, trim instead of pulling to avoid disturbing remaining seedlings
• Mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture
• Hill soil around the base of plants to prevent greening of root shoulders
• Harvest the roots by carefully digging up when 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter and 8 to 12 inches long
• Some people may develop a rash from contact with the juice from the foliage in direct sunlight, wear gloves to prevent contact during harvest
• Parsnips don't develop their flavor until after enduring frost and cold fall weather
• Can be overwintered and left in the ground through early spring, lifting when needed - mulching the soil helps make digging easier

Problems

Carrot weevil, leafhoppers, low soil fertility

Varieties

• All American - 10 to 12 inches, high sugar content, stores well
• Harris Model - smooth, white, tapered root, 10 inches
• Hollow Crown - 12 by 3 inches, develops flavor after frost
• Andover - 12 to 14 inches, slim and tapered roots, vigorous tops, stores up to 4 to 6 months
• Lancer - high germination rate