How to grow parsnips

Takes light frost · Carrot family

When to sow and plant

Sow outdoors 29 March – 5 April

Based on: average for Germany, last frost 19 April, safe from 6 May

Where the dates come from

The weeks come from our sources; the dates use the average frost in Germany. Enter a German postcode to get dates for your area.

Sow outdoors: 2–3 weeks before the last frost (USU Extension: Parsnips in the Garden)

Good and bad neighbours

We don’t know any sourced neighbours for this plant yet.

Crop rotation

After the carrot family, leave the bed free of it for at least 4 years (sources: 4–5 years).

The same species should go back to the same spot after a break of 3 years at the earliest.
Example: grown here in 2026, again from 2031.

At a glance

Family: Carrot family (Apiaceae)
Nutrient needs: Medium feeder
Frost: Half-hardy, tolerates light frost
Spacing (row × plant): 30 × 15 cm (12 × 6 in)
Plants per m²: 22.2
Per square foot (30 × 30 cm): 16 plants
Life cycle: Annual
Harvest: After 100–120 days from sowing

Spacing according to RHS Grow your own: Parsnips. Other sources: 30–46 × 8 cm (12–18 × 3 in) (USU Extension: Parsnips in the Garden).

Questions and answers

When can I sow parsnips?

Sow outdoors, average for Germany: 29 March – 5 April. Enter a German postcode above for your area, or your own frost date in the planting calendar.

How far apart should I plant parsnips?

30 × 15 cm (12 × 6 in) (row × plant), according to RHS Grow your own: Parsnips.

How long a break do parsnips need in the same bed?

After the carrot family, leave the bed free of it for at least 4 years (sources: 4–5 years). The same species should go back to the same spot after a break of 3 years at the earliest.

Sources

Show 8 sources

Retrieved on 23 October 2026. Facts in our own words, one source per value.