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Organic Gardening Vegetable Gardening Garden Clinic

Parsnip planting & harvesting--timing

2 years ago

I usually see it recommended to plant parsnips fairly early in the spring. I also see it recommended to wait til after a frost or two to harvest them, as it will sweeten them. However, when I do that they become humungous and gnarly. Some people say the big ones are tough. So what's the best way to do it? Plant later so they are nice when you harvest after it frosts? Or harvest earlier???

Comment (1)

Donna R
2 years ago
Read your variety descriptions...some parsnips will take all season to reach maturity by your first frost date. Some varieties will mature in 90-100 days...with a variety with a shorter maturation date, just count backwards from your average frost date and plant a couple of weeks before the date you counted back to. Parsnips will keep really well after the frosts start, and remember, their growth has stopped once they get hit with a freeze, so getting too big and "gnarly" as you say shouldn't be an issue. A good freeze is your friend with parsnips, it will make them very sweet, not tough!
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