When to Plant Parsnips in the UK

On this page
  1. Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)
  2. Quick Facts
  3. At a Glance
  4. Regional Planting Calendar
  5. Is August Too Late to Sow? (And a Christmas Harvest)
  6. Growth Stages
  7. Soil & Growing Conditions
  8. Harvest & Storage
  9. Diseases
  10. Pests
  11. Parsnip, Leaf to Root
  12. Plan your Parsnips planting
  13. Growing Parsnip in another region
  14. References
  15. Frequently Asked Questions

Sow parsnips early March to late May, once the soil has warmed to at least 7°C — sowing much later, such as August, doesn't leave enough of the growing season for the root to bulk up. Seed is notoriously slow to germinate (14–30 days is normal), so patience early on is part of the job.

The short answer

Plant
Early March to late May
Ready in
100–120 days
Site
soil pH 6–6.8
Biggest risk
Downy mildew

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural sources — see References.

Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)

Close-up of young serrated parsnip leaves at seedling stage — “Pastinaca sativa 2018-09-25 2049” by Salicyna is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Also known as: Wild Parsnip · 6 sources cited · Verified

Quick Facts

A pile of freshly harvested cream-white parsnip roots — “Parsnip” by HTO3 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Flickr
“Parsnip” by HTO3 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Flickr.
Factor Value
Soil pH 6 - 6.8
Germination temp 12°C
Optimal growing temp 15-21°C
Minimum survivable temp -5°C
Time to harvest 100-120 days
Soil texture RHS: "deep, light soil that drains readily"; avoid "stony or compacted soil", which causes forked roots.
Drainage RHS: soil that "drains readily", in an "open, sunny area". Utah State: "sunny locations".
Edible parts roots

At a Glance

Close-up of young serrated parsnip leaves at seedling stage — “Pastinaca sativa 2018-09-25 2049” by Salicyna is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Pastinaca sativa 2018-09-25 2049” by Salicyna is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Pastinaca sativa Parsnip Downy mildew (general) Stem and bulb nematode Carrot fly DISEASES PESTS

Regional Planting Calendar

Close-up of parsnip seed heads forming on the flower stem — “Pastinaca sativa subsp. sativa flowers, Pastinaak bloemen (5)” by Rasbak is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Pastinaca sativa subsp. sativa flowers, Pastinaak bloemen (5)” by Rasbak is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Region Sow
Southern England derived early March to late May
Midlands derived early March to late May
Northern England derived early March to late May
Scotland derived early March to late May

Rows marked derived are interpolated between regions our sources do state, because no source we consulted gives a figure for that region specifically. They are deliberately wider to reflect that uncertainty.

Southern England - detail & sources

UK-wide baseline (not yet region-differentiated): Fresh seed only; soil ≥7°C (April ideal ~10°C); germination 14–28 days; sweeter after frost.

Midlands - detail & sources

UK-wide baseline (not yet region-differentiated): Fresh seed only; soil ≥7°C (April ideal ~10°C); germination 14–28 days; sweeter after frost.

Northern England - detail & sources

UK-wide baseline (not yet region-differentiated): Fresh seed only; soil ≥7°C (April ideal ~10°C); germination 14–28 days; sweeter after frost.

Scotland - detail & sources

UK-wide baseline (not yet region-differentiated): Fresh seed only; soil ≥7°C (April ideal ~10°C); germination 14–28 days; sweeter after frost.

A page from the UK Vegetable Garden Planner PDF: the crop rotation planner, with a planning grid and four-bed rotation tips

Plan your parsnips — and the rest of the plot

This page covers parsnips. For every crop's sowing months on one chart, use the free UK vegetable planting calendar, and browse the UK vegetable growing guides for what else to grow alongside it. When you want the whole season on paper, the UK Vegetable Garden Planner is a printable PDF:

  • Twelve month-by-month sowing and harvest spreads
  • Raised bed, allotment and container layout pages for your own plot
  • A four-year crop rotation planner
  • Seed inventory, sowing log and harvest tracker
See inside the UK Vegetable Garden Planner →

80 printable pages · instant PDF download · reprint every season

Is August Too Late to Sow? (And a Christmas Harvest)

A parsnip plant growing in a cultivated field with visible row furrows — “20150518Pastinaca sativa9” by AnRo0002 is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“20150518Pastinaca sativa9” by AnRo0002 is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Is August too late to sow? Yes, for a normal-sized root. Parsnip seed alone takes 14 to 30 days to germinate in soil that's already at least 12°C, and the root then needs a full summer -- 90 to 180 days per RHS -- to bulk up before it's worth digging. Sown in August, a UK parsnip has neither the remaining warmth nor the remaining season to do that; the window is genuinely March to May, not a personal preference.

Sowing for a Christmas harvest? You don't need a special later sowing at all -- sow at the normal March-to-May window as usual. The trick is in when you lift, not when you sow: leave the roots in the ground through autumn and dig them in December, after the first heavy frost. That frost is what converts the roots' starches to sugar and gives parsnips their best flavour, so a December harvest isn't a compromise -- it's when they're supposed to be dug.

Growth Stages

A young parsnip plant's rosette of leaves growing at ground level — “Pastinaca sativa subsp. sativa young plant, pastinaak jonge plant (1)” by Rasbak is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Pastinaca sativa subsp. sativa young plant, pastinaak jonge plant (1)” by Rasbak is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Stage BBCH Notes
Sowing & germination 0 Make a shallow 1cm-deep drill, sow thinly or three seeds at 15cm intervals, rows 30cm apart. Notoriously slow and erratic to germinate, needing soil around 12°C -- a mid-spring sowing succeeds far more reliably than an early-spring one on cold ground. RHS.
Thinning 3 Thin to one seedling every 15cm, removing the smaller, weaker ones. RHS.
Root development 4 The long, tapering root develops through summer and into autumn -- a slow-growing crop that spends the whole season bulking up rather than maturing quickly. RHS.
Harvest (after frost) 8 Best left until after the first heavy frost, which intensifies sweetness and flavour by converting starches to sugars. Ease roots out intact with a fork; they can be left in the ground through winter and lifted as needed. RHS.

Soil & Growing Conditions

A parsnip plant growing in a cultivated field with visible row furrows — “20150518Pastinaca sativa9” by AnRo0002 is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“20150518Pastinaca sativa9” by AnRo0002 is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Water: RHS: water "during dry spells" and keep the soil "evenly moist" to prevent root splitting. Utah State: "1-2 inches per week depending on weather", applied "frequent and uniform".

Soil pH range

6 6.8

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Harvest & Storage

A pile of freshly harvested cream-white parsnip roots — “Parsnip” by HTO3 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Flickr
“Parsnip” by HTO3 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Flickr.

When to pick: RHS: lift once "leaves start to die down in late summer or autumn", and flavour improves "after the first heavy frost". Utah State: harvest "when the roots reach full size".

Storage

RHS: parsnips "can be left in the ground into winter and harvested as required". Utah State: store at "32ºF and 95% relative humidity for two to four weeks".

Diseases

Close-up of young serrated parsnip leaves at seedling stage — “Pastinaca sativa 2018-09-25 2049” by Salicyna is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Pastinaca sativa 2018-09-25 2049” by Salicyna is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Downy mildew (general)

RHS names parsnips among the vegetables affected by downy mildews.

Pests

An adult carrot fly (Chamaepsila rosae), a pest that also attacks parsnips — “Chamaepsila rosae 234649306” by Emanuele Santarelli is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Chamaepsila rosae 234649306” by Emanuele Santarelli is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Stem and bulb nematode

Ditylenchus dipsaci

RHS names parsnips among affected vegetables, showing "crown and leaf base swelling, rotting, and splitting".

Psila rosae

RHS: carrot fly affects "Carrot, parsnip, parsley, celeriac and celery".

Plan your Parsnips planting

When to sow and plant Parsnips depends on your own frost dates. Check the UK vegetable planting calendar, or the month-by-month guides that cover Parsnips: January, February, March, April, October, November, December. To work out where it fits in your beds, sketch your plot in the free Garden Layout Planner.

Growing Parsnip in another region

Sowing dates, frost timing and local advice differ by country. Use the guide for where you garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are parsnips hard to grow?

Mainly because the seed is slow: seedlings can take 14 to 30 days to appear, depending on conditions, so wait until the soil is around 12°C before sowing (RHS). It's also a long-season crop, ready to lift only when the leaves start to die down in late summer or autumn, so a poor early stand shows up months later.

Are parsnips worth planting?

Yes, if you have the space for a slow crop: the roots are very hardy and can be left in the ground into winter and lifted as needed, and waiting until after the first heavy frost intensifies their sweetness and flavour (RHS).

What not to plant near parsnips?

The RHS guidance doesn't single out bad neighbours, but two things matter: avoid ground where manure or compost has been added recently, which can cause forked or distorted roots, and protect the crop from the start, as parsnips are vulnerable to carrot fly (RHS).

Do parsnips come back every year?

No. Parsnip is a biennial grown as an annual, and should be harvested before its second year's leaves start to grow (University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture).

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.

Get the UK Garden Planner →

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SoilCommander Editorial Team — under the direction of Nitin Sharma, Co-Founder

Every growing guide is checked against RHS, USDA Cooperative Extension, and other named horticultural authorities before publishing.

How this guide is put together

The growing data on this page — sowing windows, pests, diseases, soil and site requirements — comes from named horticultural sources, listed in References below, checked against RHS and Met Office guidance. An automated pipeline assembles that verified data into the page you're reading: it selects which facts to lead with and builds the surrounding prose and layout. It does not invent a date, a source or a number — where a verified value for a field isn't available, the page leaves it out rather than guessing. A person reviews and publishes each page; nothing goes live unverified.

Vegetable Growing Guides UK

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Last verified 2026-08-06

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