How to grow Parsnips in the UK
Slow to grow but sweeter after a frost. Perfect for Christmas dinner.
- DifficultyA bit more care
- WhereBeds
- Grows to40cm
- Spacing15cm
- Time to first pickabout 30 weeks
When to sow, plant and harvest parsnips
| Sow outdoors | early April to late May |
|---|---|
| Pick | mid October to late February |
Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.
Sowing it outdoors
- Pull out any weeds and rake the top of your bed until it's crumbly, like cake crumbs
- Make a little line in the soil (1cm deep) with your finger or a stick
- Drop the seeds in, about 15cm apart in the row, with rows 30cm apart
- Gently cover them with soil and pat it down
- Water with a watering can that has a sprinkler head
- Push in a label so you remember what's there
Top tips for growing parsnips
- Always use fresh seeds - old parsnip seeds don't grow.
- They can take 3 weeks to come up. Be patient!
Looking after parsnips
- Week 5: Thin them out so each one has 15cm of space
Soil and feeding
Light, crumbly soil with no stones. NO fresh manure - it makes carrots and parsnips split into funny forked shapes! Use soil that was manured last year, or plain compost.
Pests and problems
- Carrot fly: lays eggs by the roots - the maggots tunnel into carrots
- Slugs & snails: munch seedlings overnight, worst in wet weather
- Cover with fine insect mesh (like 'Enviromesh') on hoops - the holes are too small for flies and butterflies
- Bury or weigh down the edges so nothing can crawl underneath
Harvesting and eating parsnips
Wait for a frost - it makes them sweeter. Dig carefully, they're long!
How to eat them: Roast with honey for Christmas dinner.
Storing parsnips
Keeps 2-3 weeks.
- Leave them in the ground over winter - frost makes them sweeter
- Once dug, keep in the fridge
Cut into chunks, blanch them (dip in boiling water for 2 minutes, then straight into icy water - ask a grown-up to help), and freeze. Roast straight from frozen.
Good varieties of parsnips
- Gladiator: Big, smooth roots that resist canker.
- Tender and True: Old favourite with the best flavour.
Companion planting
Grows well with
- Radishes: radishes come up fast and mark the slow parsnip rows
Saving your own parsnips seed
It only makes seed in its second summer.
- This plant flowers in its second year, so leave one or two strong plants in the ground over winter
- Next summer they grow tall and flower - bees love them
- Cut the seed heads when they're brown and dry, and shake out the seeds
- Cabbage-family plants cross with each other, so seed may not come true
Things to build for parsnips
Where to buy parsnips seeds
Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon
These are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Read more.
Parsnips questions
When should I sow parsnips in the UK?
In the UK, sow parsnips outdoors from early April to late May. These dates suit central England; sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland and up to two weeks earlier in the mild south and south west.
When can I pick parsnips?
Parsnips is ready from mid October to late February. Wait for a frost - it makes them sweeter. Dig carefully, they're long!
How long do parsnips take to grow?
Roughly 30 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.
Are parsnips easy to grow?
Parsnips are rated 'a bit more care' for beginners, and can be grown in the ground or a raised bed.
Plan your own garden: it tells you what to do and when, for your postcode.
Start growing - it's free