Parsnip

Parsnip

Pastinaca sativa

Sow outdoors 2 weeks before your last spring frost. Space plants 3 in (8 cm) apart.

Photo: Zyance, CC BY-SA 2.5 · source

When to plant

Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.

See the dates for your garden

Enter your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Every timing on this site turns into a calendar date. Not sure of yours? Your local extension service or a search for “last frost date” and your town will tell you; the app finds them from your location.

Last spring frost
First fall frost

Saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Optimal Direct Sow

From seedRecommended
  1. Sow outdoors2 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. First harvestabout 110 days after sowing

Growing parsnip

Spacing in the row
3 in (8 cm)
Between rows
18 in (46 cm)
Planting depth
1/4-1/2 inch
Sun
Full Sun
Life cycle
Biennial

Feeding

How often
At planting, then once at midseason. One light nitrogen side-dress about 6 weeks after sowing is enough; excess nitrogen gives leafy tops and forked roots.

Your parsnip, planned to the day.

Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.

Add parsnip to your planting calendar →

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