Hamburg Parsley (Petroselinum crispum var. tuberosum)
1 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Plant
- Early April to early May
- Site
- 5+ hours of sun, soil pH 6–7.5
- Biggest risk
- Parsley leaf spot
In the UK, hamburg parsleys go in the ground early April to early May.
Hamburg parsleys (Petroselinum crispum var. tuberosum) — biennial grown as an annual.
Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: there are 4 separate regional sowing windows, ranging from early April in Southern England to early April in Scotland.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.
Regional Planting Calendar
Quick Facts
At a Glance
Soil & Growing Conditions
Growth Stages
Harvest & Storage
Diseases
Pests
Hamburg Parsley, a Two-For-One Root Vegetable
References
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Leaves similar to parsley in appearance and taste; edible roots resemble parsnips, reaching about 15cm long, frost-resistant, tasting like a cross between parsnips and parsley or parsnips and celery, sweetest and tastiest cooked. Not native to GB/Ireland, introduced to England in the 18th century, still popular in Germany. Hardiness H6 (-20 to -15C). Full sun or partial shade. Soil: chalk, clay, loam, sand; moist but well-drained; acid, alkaline or neutral pH. Height/spread 0.1-0.5m. Time to maturity 1-2 years. Propagate by seed, thinning seedlings to about 20cm spacing. Pests: carrot fly, aphids, celery leaf miner, slugs. Diseases: leaf spot, plant viruses. Roots harvested through autumn and early winter; the largest roots taste the best. Grown as an annual; flowering renders the leaves inedible.
1 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I sow hamburg parsleys in the UK?
In Southern England, from early April. In Scotland, wait until early April. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
When do I sow hamburg parsleys?
Sow early April to early May.
What soil pH do hamburg parsleys need?
A pH of about 6–7.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect hamburg parsleys?
Our data links 1 disease and 4 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
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Last verified 2026-08-29
Where To Go From Here
Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.
Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.