What is the secret to growing parsnips?

Parsnips taste best when plants have been exposed to several weeks of cool, frosty weather. Avoid water or fertilizer stress during growth . Irrigation should be frequent and uniform to ensure good growth. Control insect and diseases throughout the year.

What is the best month to plant parsnips?

Although it's sometimes recommended to start sowing in February, in all but very mild locations this will usually be too cold for reliable germination – wait until temperatures are around 12°C (54°F). Sowings made in March and April, and even early May , tend to do much better.

What not to plant next to parsnips?

What Not To Plant With Vegetables Vegetable Bad Companion Plants Parsnip Lettuce, onions, carrots Peas and Mange Tout Pak Choi, onions, peppers Potatoes Carrot, cucumber, pumpkin Radish Grapes 27 more rows

How long do parsnips take to grow?

It takes from 120 to 180 days for a parsnip to go from seeds to roots. When planting parsnips, plant the seeds ½-inch apart and ½-inch deep in rows at least 12 inches (30 cm.) apart. This gives the growing parsnips room to develop good roots.

Do parsnips come back every year?

Like carrots, they are biennials . This means their life cycle takes two years. The first year they grow a big taproot, and if left, the second year they bloom and set seed. Instead of harvesting my whole crop last fall (a paltry five parsnips), I left one parsnip in the ground.

Do parsnips like sun or shade?

Parsnips need full to partial sun for best growth. They are not suitable for partial shade or shady areas. Parsnips are best grown outdoors in the ground, either in raised beds or unraised/ground level gardens if the soil is suitable.

What is a companion plant for parsnips?

Fruit trees represent one category of great companions for parsnips, but there are others. Certain vegetables will help to protect your parsnips from pests. Onions and garlic repel aphids, ants, and flea beetles. Parsnips have a tendency to be plagued by root maggots, which will destroy your harvest.

Well-established fields and meadows are not likely to be invaded, but parsnip can become well-established along the edges and in disturbed areas. Once an infestation begins, it can spread into adjacent areas and form dense stands in high-quality fields and meadows .

Do parsnips like blood and bone?

In poor soil use a fertiliser low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus, such as blood and bone , applied at the recommended rate.

What is the best fertilizer for parsnips?

Parsnip will tolerate a poor soil, but a bit of compost or Scotts Performance Naturals™ Organic Based Soil Improver is ideal will help retain moisture. There's no need to fertilise parsnips - excess nutrients can cause their roots to fork and deform.

Why are parsnips so hard to germinate?

Parsnip seeds need a minimum of 46 degrees to germinate , but even at this temperature they are liable to rot before they've had a chance to sprout. It is far better to wait until soil temperatures have reached about 55 degrees or higher.

Why did my parsnips not grow?

The three most common reasons are improper soil preparation, over fertilizing, and root knot nematodes . Parsnips do best when direct seeded into fertile, well-worked soil. Garden beds full of rocks, clumps, and other debris aren't suitable for growing parsnips.

How to grow parsnips | Thompson & Morgan (2024)

Grow your own Christmas dinner staple by following our expert parsnips growing guide
Image: Parsnip 'Warrior' F1 Hybrid from Thompson & Morgan

Deliciously sweet parsnips are the crowning glory of a Sunday roast! These tasty root vegetables are easy to grow and need next to no maintenance throughout the season. In fact, once sown they virtually look after themselves. Better still, they don't need harvesting all in one go. You can leave them in the ground right through to early spring, lifting just a few as and when you need them.

Here’s our complete guide on how and when to sow parsnips. When you’re ready to make a start, browse our full range of parsnip seeds to choose the best variety for your garden.

Best parsnip varieties to try

Parsnip 'Albion' is easy to grow and holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit
Image: Parsnip 'Albion' from Thompson & Morgan

When to sow parsnip seeds

Don't be tempted to use last year's leftover seed. Parsnips have a relatively short viability period so it’s particularly important to order fresh parsnip seeds each year to get the very best crop.

Parsnip seeds can be direct sown outdoors from April to June, once the ground is workable. They need temperatures of around 12C (52F) to germinate, so don't sow them too early unless you use cloches to warm the soil first. Avoid sowing your seeds in cold or wet soils as it is liable to rot.

Where to sow parsnip seeds

Parsnip 'Tender and True' produces large roots with excellent flavour
Image: Parsnip 'Tender and True' from Thompson & Morgan

How to sow parsnip seeds

Once germinated, parsnips are low maintenance vegetables
Image: Shutterstock

Direct sow your parsnip seeds in 13mm deep drills, keeping the rows 30cm apart.
Germination can take up to 28 days.
During dry periods it’s especially important to keep the seed well watered to encourage good germination, particularly when growing on light, sandy soils.
When large enough to handle, thin out the seedlings to 10-15cm apart.
Once germinated, your parsnips will need little attention. Water when necessary to keep the soil moist and try to avoid extremes of wet and dry soil as this may cause the roots to split.
Weed between your rows of parsnips regularly. Hand weeding is less likely to damage the developing parsnip roots.
If space is limited, why not sow a crop of radishes between your rows of parsnips to maximise the use of your land. They mature quickly and can be harvested long before the parsnips start to swell.

Can you grow parsnips in containers?

While many vegetable crops make excellent subjects for growing in containers, unfortunately parsnips are not well suited to this method. Because they develop such long roots, parsnips need deeper soil than most containers can offer. However, if you have a particularly deep container or a spare dustbin, there’s no reason why you shouldn't drill some holes in the bottom and have a go!

When to harvest parsnips

With beautiful, silky-smooth, blemish free, white skins, parsnip 'Gladiator' is easy to grow
Image: Parsnip 'Gladiator F1 Hybrid' from Sutton

You can start to harvest your parsnips from late autumn right through to the end of January, once the foliage begins to die back. The crop can be safely left in the ground until you need it - just lift a few roots at a time, as and when they’re required. In fact, the flavour of your parsnips will be improved if they’re left in the ground until exposed to frost. This process converts the starch into sugars, thereby giving the roots a far sweeter flavour.

Alternatively, lift and store your parsnips in boxes of barely moist soil, peat or sand in a cool place like a shed, garage or unheated greenhouse. Roots can be stored like this for up to 4 months.

Want to learn more about growing your own root veg? Learn from our carrots and parsnips guides for gardening advice and how to use up your harvest.