Parsnip
8
2
2Will it grow where I live?
Parsnip is hardy to zone 5 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 5 upwards.
Or check it for your location right here:
Profile
- Family
- Apiaceae
- Habit
- biennial
- Height
- 1 m
- Spread
- 0.2 m
- Growth
- fast
- Lifespan
- 2 years
- First yield
- after 2 years
- Yield per plant
- up to 0.3 kg
- Hardiness
- zone 5–8
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Soil
- Sand, Silt, Loam
- Soil moisture
- semi-dry – moist
- pH
- 5.3 – 8.6
Flowering & harvest
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowering | ||||||||||||
| Fruit harvest | ||||||||||||
| Leaf harvest |
Uses
Growing
Parsnips prefer sunny sites with well-drained, fertile soil. Sow directly outdoors in early spring. The plants need regular watering, especially during the growth phase. Harvest the roots in autumn, ideally after the first frosts, when they taste sweeter.
Frequently asked questions
Parsnip: how big does it get?
Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) grows as a biennial and reaches roughly 1 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 0.2 m. Growth is fast.
Parsnip: what site does it need?
Parsnip tolerates light shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – moist. The pH may lie between 5.3 and 8.6.
Parsnip: is it hardy?
Parsnip is listed as hardy in zone 5–8 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
Parsnip: will it grow in Central Europe?
Parsnip is hardy to zone 5 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 5 upwards.
Parsnip: when does it flower?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers from May to July.
Parsnip: when is it harvested?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate the fruit ripens from September to October.
Parsnip: when does it start cropping, and how much?
Parsnip first crops after 2 years. Expect up to 0.3 kg per plant. Figures assume a good site; variety, soil and climate shift them considerably.
Parsnip: is it poisonous?
Individual parts of Parsnip are noted as mildly problematic — the plant does not count as poisonous. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone, only on a confident identification.
Parsnip: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 8/10, Medicinal 2/10, Other uses 2/10.
Plan this plant into your own garden
Permaplans plans your garden to scale on the map — with a site check, harvest calendar and over 1,000 plants. Free for iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows & Linux.
Will this plant grow where you live? → Check your site
Community experience
No first-hand reports for this plant yet.
Growing it? Write in the app what works for you – your post will show up here.
💬 Get the app and join in