Leslie Massey
Parsnips are a nutty and sweet root vegetable that can be grown in most climates in Australia. They are easy to grow in gardens, raised beds, or large pots, and can take 5-6 months to reach maturity. The best time to plant parsnips depends on the climate, but generally, in cold and cool temperate areas, seeds should be sown from September to March, while in subtropical and warm temperate areas, they should be sown from late summer to late autumn. Parsnips prefer full sun positions and loose, well-drained soil. They don't require much fertiliser, as excess nutrients can cause their roots to fork and deform. Parsnip seeds can take 2-4 weeks to germinate, and the plants can be interplanted with quick-growing crops like radishes. With the right care, anyone in Australia can enjoy the taste of homegrown parsnips.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Climate | Grows in most climates in Australia |
| Weather | Avoid extremely hot or cold weather |
| Temperature | Soil temperature of 10-21°C for germination |
| Season | Late summer to late autumn |
| Soil | Loose, well-drained, sandy, loamy, moist, poor |
| Sunlight | Full sun, at least 3 hours a day |
| Fertiliser | Low nitrogen, no fertiliser required |
| Seeds | Planted 3 cm apart, 1 cm deep |
| Rows | 30 cm apart |
| Germination | 2-4 weeks, slow |
| Harvest | 120-180 days after sowing |
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What You'll Learn
Best soil type and preparation
Parsnips are easy to grow in gardens, raised beds, or large pots and will grow in most climates in Australia. They are very temperature-dependent, so the best time to plant them depends on the climate. In cold and cool temperate areas, sow seeds from September to March, while in subtropical and warm temperate areas, it’s best to sow parsnips from late summer to late autumn. Avoid planting in extremely hot or cold weather, which can affect germination and growth.
Parsnips should be grown in a full sun position, in loose, well-drained, deep sandy, or loamy soil. Just like other root crops, parsnips don’t like root disturbance, so they should be directly sown into your prepared soil. Before planting, fork the soil well to help break it up. Spread a soil improver and dig it into the top 20 cm of soil before planting to loosen it up and help the soil retain moisture.
Parsnips will tolerate poor soil and will happily follow hungry crops like brassicas or tomatoes. However, a bit of compost or organic-based soil improver is ideal for helping retain moisture. There’s no need to fertilize parsnips—excess nutrients can cause their roots to fork and deform. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, while the seeds germinate, which will take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks. You may want to cover the soil with a shade cloth or place a plank of wood over the row to help keep it evenly moist.
Seedlings can be thinned to allow 5-10 cm between parsnips around 4 weeks after germination. Because parsnips grow so slowly, they can be interplanted with quick-growing crops like radishes, which will be ready to harvest long before the parsnips.
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When to sow
Parsnips can be grown in most climates in Australia, but the timing of sowing varies depending on the region. In cold and cool temperate areas, such as Victoria, parsnip seeds should be sown from September to March. In Melbourne, for example, you can sow seeds as late as May, allowing for a spring harvest. In subtropical and warm temperate areas, seeds should be sown from late summer to late autumn or early spring. In warmer subtropical and tropical climates, seeds can be sown anytime between late summer and early spring, ensuring the soil temperature is warm enough (around 10-21°C or 12°C) for germination.
When sowing parsnip seeds, it is important to plant them directly into your prepared soil, as they do not like root disturbance. Space the seeds about 3cm apart in rows that are 30cm apart. The soil should be loose and friable, and well-drained to allow for the development of long, well-developed roots. It is also important to keep the soil moist but not soggy while the seeds germinate, which can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks, or even up to 3 weeks. If you are getting your parsnips into the ground in spring, they may take a few weeks to germinate, whereas in summer, they can sprout in as little as a week.
It is recommended to use fresh seeds as parsnips have a poor germination rate, and the germination rate decreases with older seeds. The soil should be lightly pressed with a timber board and kept moist for about 3 weeks. When the seedlings are 2.5cm high, thin them out to allow about 5-10cm between parsnips.
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How to sow
Parsnips are a nutty and sweet root vegetable that can take 5-6 months to reach maturity. They can be grown year-round in most climates of Australia, but the best time to sow parsnip seeds depends on the climate. In cold and cool temperate areas, sow seeds from September to March, while in subtropical and warm temperate areas it’s best to sow parsnips from late summer to late autumn. If you live in a warmer subtropical or tropical climate, sow seeds anytime between late summer and early spring. Avoid planting in extremely hot or cold weather, which can affect germination and growth.
When planting, use fresh seed as germination rates are typically poor if the seed is old. The seeds should be sown directly into your garden bed, about 1 cm deep, and spaced 3 cm apart in rows that are 30 cm apart. Parsnips don't like root disturbance, so avoid germinating in seedling trays and then transplanting. The soil temperature should be around 10-21°C for the seeds to germinate in about 14-28 days. Keep the soil moist but not soggy while the seeds germinate. You can cover the soil with a shade cloth or place a plank of wood over the row to help keep it evenly moist.
Before planting, prepare the soil by forking it well to help break it up. Parsnips will tolerate poor soil and will follow hungry crops like brassicas or tomatoes. However, mixing organic-based soil improver through the top 20 cm of soil before planting will help loosen it up and retain moisture. You can also add well-aged manure or compost to the soil, but avoid using fresh manure as this can cause the parsnip to fork. A low-nitrogen fertiliser can also be beneficial for good growth.
Once the seedlings are about 2.5 cm high, thin them out to allow 5-10 cm between parsnips. Parsnip seedlings are susceptible to slugs and snails, so protect your crop by setting beer traps or using snail and slug pellets or bait.
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Common pests
Parsnips are susceptible to pests, diseases, and other problems. Young seedlings will need protection from pests, and slugs and snails can cause significant damage to them. To protect your parsnip crop, you can set beer traps (saucers filled with beer) or use slug and snail pellets or bait.
Another common problem is poor germination, which may be caused by sowing old seeds. Seeds should be sown directly into the garden, 5mm deep and 5-10cm apart, with rows 35-50cm apart. They should germinate in around 14-28 days at a soil temperature of 10-21°C.
To avoid fungal diseases, do not water the leaves of the plants.
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Harvesting and storing
Parsnips are ready to harvest 120-180 days after sowing, depending on the variety and your climate. Harvesting after a frost is said to make your parsnips sweeter. If you leave your parsnips to set flowers in spring or warmer weather, their cores can become woody and tough. If this happens, simply remove the core before cooking.
When harvesting parsnips, use a fork to carefully lift them out of the ground. Parsnips can be left in the ground over winter and dug up as needed. However, they can be challenging to harvest in frozen ground, so it is recommended to harvest them before the ground freezes.
Parsnips don't have a long shelf life, even when stored in the vegetable crisper. So, if you have an excess, it is best to peel and cut them into chunks, then freeze them for long-term use. They can be cooked, mashed, and used in soups after thawing.
To store parsnip seeds for future use, let three or four parsnips run to seed in spring. When the seed heads are mature, strip off the seeds, dry them, and place them in a freezer for five minutes to kill any bugs. Store the dried seeds in a paper bag for long-term storage. Germination rates should be good for about two years.
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Frequently asked questions
Parsnips can be grown year-round in most climates in Australia. The best time to plant parsnips depends on the climate. In cold and cool temperate areas, sow seeds from September to March. In subtropical and warm temperate areas, it is best to sow parsnips from late summer to late autumn or early spring. In Melbourne, you can sow seeds as late as May.
Parsnip seeds should be planted directly into the garden bed, about 1 cm deep, in rows that are 30 cm apart. Seeds should be sown thickly, and the weaker seedlings should be thinned out once they are 2.5 cm high, leaving 5-10 cm between parsnips. Parsnips grow slowly, so they can be interplanted with quick-growing crops like radishes.
Parsnip seeds can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks to germinate. Parsnips take a long time to reach full maturity, anywhere from 5 to 6 months. You can begin to harvest roots earlier, about 4 months after sowing, to make the most of the season.
