How to Grow Perfect Parsnips, from Seed to Harvest
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Date: 2026-04-12
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Comments and reviews: 19
ambreewilliams6585
Last year I started my parsnips like some UK growers do by putting them in bathroom tissue rolls filled with seed starting mix. Since it's pretty hot in TX (8b, I ended up putting them in my refrigerator for three weeks so they could have 'cool weather' to germinate lol. I eventually put them in my greenhouse on my patio on the 4th week and they actually germinated! I grew the Javelin variety - I planted them at the end of October and I harvested them last month (March. YUM! I grew them in 10gal grow bags that were about 18 tall. Actually had loooong tap roots on a couple of them!
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Last year I started my parsnips like some UK growers do by putting them in bathroom tissue rolls filled with seed starting mix. Since it's pretty hot in TX (8b, I ended up putting them in my refrigerator for three weeks so they could have 'cool weather' to germinate lol. I eventually put them in my greenhouse on my patio on the 4th week and they actually germinated! I grew the Javelin variety - I planted them at the end of October and I harvested them last month (March. YUM! I grew them in 10gal grow bags that were about 18 tall. Actually had loooong tap roots on a couple of them!
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emkn1479
I’m in a rural area and I can definitely buy parsnips in the grocery store. They’re washed and bagged, like carrots. We try to grow them, but they’re pretty tricky. Even if they germinate, they fork terribly, making them practically useless. That’s where I ned help. We sifted the soil and used low nitrogen fertilizerwho knows
I prepare a bed in fall and sprinkle seeds then. Otherwise, there’s no way I can keep them wet enough to germinate. This way they come up when they please.
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I’m in a rural area and I can definitely buy parsnips in the grocery store. They’re washed and bagged, like carrots. We try to grow them, but they’re pretty tricky. Even if they germinate, they fork terribly, making them practically useless. That’s where I ned help. We sifted the soil and used low nitrogen fertilizerwho knows
I prepare a bed in fall and sprinkle seeds then. Otherwise, there’s no way I can keep them wet enough to germinate. This way they come up when they please.
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laurafedora5385
You can overwinter parsnips in cold climates and pull them as soon as the ground is warm enough.
I grew a monster parsnip one year, it was like 4' long Talk about Epic Gardening! Lol
Thought it would be woody, but it was so sweet. I haven't done them for a few years, I should try them again! They are amazing roasted and store well. So great to be able to harvest from your garden in April when you're in zone 5b!
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You can overwinter parsnips in cold climates and pull them as soon as the ground is warm enough.
I grew a monster parsnip one year, it was like 4' long Talk about Epic Gardening! Lol
Thought it would be woody, but it was so sweet. I haven't done them for a few years, I should try them again! They are amazing roasted and store well. So great to be able to harvest from your garden in April when you're in zone 5b!
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MoonlightFood_US
This is the most practical parsnip guide I’ve ever seen. I especially loved the pro-tip about using burlap to retain moisture and the safety warning about the phototoxic sap in the leavesI had no idea! Your explanation of 'germination math' was also incredibly helpful for avoiding patchy beds. You’ve turned a complex process into an easy-to-follow masterclass. Great job!
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This is the most practical parsnip guide I’ve ever seen. I especially loved the pro-tip about using burlap to retain moisture and the safety warning about the phototoxic sap in the leavesI had no idea! Your explanation of 'germination math' was also incredibly helpful for avoiding patchy beds. You’ve turned a complex process into an easy-to-follow masterclass. Great job!
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kirstypollock6811
Lol. In the UK and Germany, you CAN buy parsnips in the shops. I'm currently waiting for mine in a container to come up (sown 3 weeks ago, covered with fleece, meanwhile, the self seeded ones in my garden are several inches tall already. I had no luck last year, even with fresh seeds, but I did have a couple overwinter ok and flower to get the seeds I'm using this year.
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Lol. In the UK and Germany, you CAN buy parsnips in the shops. I'm currently waiting for mine in a container to come up (sown 3 weeks ago, covered with fleece, meanwhile, the self seeded ones in my garden are several inches tall already. I had no luck last year, even with fresh seeds, but I did have a couple overwinter ok and flower to get the seeds I'm using this year.
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susanmast4393
Parsnips really need a hard frost in the fall. They become so sweet. In cold climates, cover them over with about 5 of leaves, mark the rows and you can harvest all winter. I live in Ontario Canada, we’ve been growing parsnips for over 50 years. This year, I harvested my last parsnips from my little garden in March 2026. I do the pre sprouting too.
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Parsnips really need a hard frost in the fall. They become so sweet. In cold climates, cover them over with about 5 of leaves, mark the rows and you can harvest all winter. I live in Ontario Canada, we’ve been growing parsnips for over 50 years. This year, I harvested my last parsnips from my little garden in March 2026. I do the pre sprouting too.
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Argentum
Could be fun, though I'll have to get over my fear of carrot family crops There are so many wild apiacae plants where I live. All look the same, half are edible and half are deadly toxic. Fun fact, hemlock has a rhizome that looks almost exactly like a parsnip, except it'll kill you. Also wild parsnips themselves are also highly toxic
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Could be fun, though I'll have to get over my fear of carrot family crops There are so many wild apiacae plants where I live. All look the same, half are edible and half are deadly toxic. Fun fact, hemlock has a rhizome that looks almost exactly like a parsnip, except it'll kill you. Also wild parsnips themselves are also highly toxic
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bes4497
I miss parsnips so much. They're a staple part of a classic British Sunday roast. I thought it wasn't possible to grow them where I currently live because it stays too hot for too long. But if you're able to grow them in southern California, maybe I do have a chance.
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I miss parsnips so much. They're a staple part of a classic British Sunday roast. I thought it wasn't possible to grow them where I currently live because it stays too hot for too long. But if you're able to grow them in southern California, maybe I do have a chance.
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elaineisthatyou
Wish I saw this before sowing my (old) parsnip seeds yesterday! I've had mild success growing them in the past by just throwing some seeds in a grow bag and being totally surprised when stuff has grown months later.
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Wish I saw this before sowing my (old) parsnip seeds yesterday! I've had mild success growing them in the past by just throwing some seeds in a grow bag and being totally surprised when stuff has grown months later.
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adrianafinstad1254
Growing parsnips for the first time this year. I live in Norway and I direct sowed them a month ago and now they are sprouting. Still pretty cold here, night temperature around 36 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Growing parsnips for the first time this year. I live in Norway and I direct sowed them a month ago and now they are sprouting. Still pretty cold here, night temperature around 36 degrees Fahrenheit.
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authorannie1211
Thanks for the parsnips video! While studying American history, I discovered that parsnips used to grow all over the country, and people could pull parsnips out of the ground anywhere to eat them.
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Thanks for the parsnips video! While studying American history, I discovered that parsnips used to grow all over the country, and people could pull parsnips out of the ground anywhere to eat them.
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SmallRabbitMusings
I’ve had success with parsnip by growing with fresh seed every year- if they are not F1 you can retain a few plants and collect the seed in the second year then they are nice and fresh!
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I’ve had success with parsnip by growing with fresh seed every year- if they are not F1 you can retain a few plants and collect the seed in the second year then they are nice and fresh!
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zombiebychoice
Funny you struggle with parsnips down there in California. Here in illinois they are literally invasive and fill our prairies here. So I just have them volunteer around the yard.
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Funny you struggle with parsnips down there in California. Here in illinois they are literally invasive and fill our prairies here. So I just have them volunteer around the yard.
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RickGregory
Hey Kev - aynythign special on fertilization I've got a bed I'm resetting soon and I'm thinking a balanced organic, some compost and maybe some chicken manure,
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Hey Kev - aynythign special on fertilization I've got a bed I'm resetting soon and I'm thinking a balanced organic, some compost and maybe some chicken manure,
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epic_gardening
I’ve been trying to grow parsnips in zone 6a. No success even when using the paper towel method. Will get fresh seeds as suggested and try again
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I’ve been trying to grow parsnips in zone 6a. No success even when using the paper towel method. Will get fresh seeds as suggested and try again
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tinad6812
Congratulations. I haven’t grown them. I actually never had a good tasting one. I guess it needs to be homegrown to taste good. Nice t-shirt.
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Congratulations. I haven’t grown them. I actually never had a good tasting one. I guess it needs to be homegrown to taste good. Nice t-shirt.
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asteria4279
When you say harder to grow in America, I think what you really mean is harder to grow cool weather crops in my year-round warm sunshine
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When you say harder to grow in America, I think what you really mean is harder to grow cool weather crops in my year-round warm sunshine
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HereIsMyStuff35
Parsley worms aka butterfly caterpillars are fond of the greens. I let them eat all they want and look forward to the butterflies.
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Parsley worms aka butterfly caterpillars are fond of the greens. I let them eat all they want and look forward to the butterflies.
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epic_gardening
Tropical gardener from Guyana here. In our heat we cannot grow parsnip but I love seeing how it grows in cooler climates!
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Tropical gardener from Guyana here. In our heat we cannot grow parsnip but I love seeing how it grows in cooler climates!
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