How to Grow Parsnips
Pastinaca sativa
A long-season root that turns frost into deep, nutty sweetness.
By the Plants by Zone Editorial Team · Reviewed June 1, 2026
About parsnips
Parsnips are a patient gardener’s root crop — slow to germinate and slow to mature, but transformed by cold into something richly sweet and nutty. They need loose, deep, stone-free soil to grow straight and a long season to size up. A few frosts before harvest are the secret to their flavor.
When to plant and harvest parsnips
Timing is relative to your frost dates. Find your USDA zone for exact dates, or browse the month-by-month calendars.
Start seeds indoors
Not recommended — roots dislike transplanting
Transplant outdoors
Not applicable
Direct sow
2–4 weeks before last frost into workable soil
Harvest
Late fall into winter, after frosts
How to grow parsnips step by step
- 1
Always use fresh seed — parsnip seed loses viability fast — and sow directly into deep, loosened soil.
- 2
Keep the seedbed constantly moist for the long 2–4 week germination; the slow sprouting tests your patience.
- 3
Thin seedlings to 3–4 in apart so roots have room to grow long and straight.
- 4
Keep weeded and evenly watered through the long season.
- 5
Leave roots in the ground through several hard frosts to build sweetness.
- 6
Dig as needed in late fall and winter; mulch to keep the soil workable.
Common problems growing parsnips
⚠ Patchy or no germination
Almost always old seed or dry soil — buy fresh seed each year and never let the seedbed dry out.
⚠ Forked or twisted roots
Caused by stones, fresh manure, or compacted soil — grow in deep, loose, stone-free beds.
⚠ Bland, starchy roots
Harvest too early — leave parsnips through several frosts, which convert starch to sugar.
✗ Keep away from
🧺 Harvesting parsnips
Wait until after several hard frosts, then dig parsnips with a fork, loosening the deep soil first to avoid snapping the long roots. They store right in the ground under mulch all winter and only get sweeter — note the sap can irritate skin in sun, so wear sleeves.
Parsnips: frequently asked questions
Why won’t my parsnip seeds come up?＋
Parsnip seed is short-lived and slow — use fresh seed every year and keep the bed constantly moist for the two-to-four weeks it takes to germinate.
When are parsnips sweetest?＋
After several hard frosts. Cold converts their starch to sugar, so a late-fall or winter harvest is far sweeter than an early one.
Grow parsnips in your zone
See exactly when to plant and what else to grow alongside parsnips, tailored to your USDA hardiness zone.
