Parsnip

Family: Apiaceae Root vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Sweetly fragrant and richly mellow, this long-root Parsnip delivers a warm, honeyed flavor with a firm, creamy bite when grown to full maturity.

The roots form smooth, tapered cylinders with a pale ivory skin that turns subtly golden in the sun, offering a velvety texture that holds beautifully through roasting and caramelizing. Ideal for long-season gardens, it shines in hearty root roasts, velvety purées, and savory soups, and it also lends itself to pickling for a bright, aromatic accent.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 105 DaysHabit: Taproot

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Parsnip Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 28th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Sep 1st – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 28th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Aug 26th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Aug 21st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Aug 17th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Aug 14th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Aug 8th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Aug 3rd – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jul 24th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jul 15th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jul 6th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Jun 19th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	May 25th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	105
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Taproot
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

As it reaches full maturity, this long-root parsnip turns from merely earthy into warmly honeyed, with a firm, creamy bite that stands up to high-heat roasting. It purées into a genuinely silky texture, so it’s a go-to when you want body and sweetness without any floury tricks.

Best Uses

roasting/caramelizing until browned at the edges for maximum sweetness
velvety parsnip purée (press through a sieve if you want it truly smooth)
hearty root soups and braises where it thickens naturally
quick pickling for a sharp, aromatic crunch

Flavor Profile

warm, honeyed sweetness sweetly fragrant, parsley-celery edge firm-creamy bite when roasted silky, velvety texture in purée

Kitchen Pairings

brown butter thyme garlic sage black pepper pork

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage Cercospora leaf blight and other leaf spot problems on Pastinaca sativa (parsnip)?

Look for tan to brown spots that spread on parsnip leaves, often starting in the lower canopy in humid weather. Remove and discard infected foliage early, then improve airflow by thinning crowded plants and watering at the soil line instead of wetting leaves. If outbreaks are persistent, use a labeled fungicide for leafy vegetables/Apiaceae (follow the product label exactly) and avoid harvesting wet foliage to reduce spread.

What watering schedule and soil moisture level does Pastinaca sativa need during the main growing phase?

After seedlings establish, keep the soil consistently evenly moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, split as needed during dry spells. Water deeply when the top 1 inch (2–3 cm) of soil dries, because parsnips form best when moisture is steady and roots aren’t repeatedly stressed. Mulch can help prevent swings, which otherwise lead to forked or fibrous roots.

When are parsnips (Pastinaca sativa) ready to harvest, and how can I tell?

Harvest at about 105 days from sowing, or when roots reach roughly 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) in diameter, though larger is fine if quality stays sweet. Use a gentle fork-lift to check size before pulling; if you feel a thick, well-formed root and the plant’s tops are starting to decline, it’s time. Parsnips also improve in flavor after cool weather, so you can harvest in stages after frost as long as the ground isn’t frozen solid.