Parsnip
Pastinaca sativa • Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
🌱 Seed Category
Vegetable
🌍 Origin Region
Eurasia; widely adapted to temperate climates with cold winters.
📅 Days to Maturity
100-120 days; flavor improves significantly after the first one or two frosts as starches convert to sugars.
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-9; biennial, very cold-hardy, roots can be overwintered in the ground.
About This Seed
The seeds are flat, oval, and tan to light brown with thin, papery, translucent wings at the edges to aid wind dispersal. The resulting plant is a biennial grown as an annual, producing a long, creamy-white taproot and rosettes of pinnate, celery-like green foliage.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Late Spring to Early Fall; requires a long growing season and is best direct-sown after the last frost.
Germination
Slow germination taking 14-21 days. Optimal soil temperature is 50-70°F (10-21°C). Seeds must be fresh (viability drops significantly after one year) and require constant moisture.
Planting Instructions
Sow 1/2 inch deep, 1 inch apart, in rows 18 inches apart. Thin to 3-4 inches once established. Requires deep, stone-free sandy loam with a pH of 6.0-7.0.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun is preferred, though it can tolerate light shade. Needs consistent moisture during germination and root development; drought-tolerant once established but roots may split.
Companion Plants
Beneficial with onions, garlic, and leeks (to deter carrot flies); avoid planting with fennel or carrots due to shared pests and cross-pollination.
Special Characteristics
High nutrient density, high sugar content after frost, and pollinator-friendly if allowed to flower in the second year. Warning: Wild parsnip sap can cause phytophotodermatitis.