How to grow... Parsnip
Rocket Growing Guides
Our parsnip plants come in biodegradable fibre pots to minimise root damage when transplanting. You can soak these in water before planting, peel off the base carefully, and then plant them in the ground – the less the roots are handled, the better.
- Parsnip Growing Guide
How to Plant Parsnips
- Choose a site with well-drained, light soil and full sun. Make sure soil is dug over well before planting and raked (remove any stones.)
- Raised beds or planting into the ground works best for parsnips. You could also plant into deep planters.
- If there is more than one seedling growing in the plug, pinch off all but the strongest.
- Parsnip plants are sent in biodegradable pots – very carefully peel off the base of the pot (this is best done after soaking the plant in water first) before planting
- Plant 30cm apart
How to Grow Parsnips
- Keep well watered during dry spells
- If growing in clay soil, earth up around the base of the plant to prevent the crown from being exposed to the air – this will help to avoid canker.
- Keep weeds down – an onion hoe is good for getting in between plants – be careful not to disturb the crown of the parsnips
Common Pests & Problems with Parsnips
- Canker – if you see red-brown patches on the crown of parsnip, this is most likely to be canker, a spore driven fungal disease that causes the roots to rot. This starts to happen as cooler, damper and windier weather comes in over the autumn. To prevent it you can try earthing up around the crown of the parsnips with compost before cooler weather arrives.
- Carrot fly – these flies often lay their eggs at the base of parsnip plants (they prefer carrot plants, hence the name, but if they’re hungry….) When the maggots hatch they burrow into the roots and eat tunnels through your beloved parsnips! If they are a problem in your area, try covering parsnips and carrots with horticultural fleece.
How to Harvest & Store Parsnips
- Harvest in late autumn/winter once the foliage starts to die back
- Parsnips can withstand frost, so you can leave them in the ground until you want to use them. Otherwise, they will store quite well in a sack in a cold, dry, dark room
