Annual vegetable
Parsnip plant profile
Pastinaca sativa
An annual vegetable for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Parsnip
Direct sow
3 weeks before your last spring frost to 2 weeks before your last spring frost
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- 1 in / week
- Planting depth
- 0.25 in
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Spacing
- 3 to 6 in apart, rows 12 in
- Days to maturity
- 100 to 120 days (from sowing)
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: parsnip fly, leaf blight, yellows, root cracking.
Companion planting
What to grow nearby
Good companions
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- How to Grow Parsnips in Your Garden
Utah State University Extension. Supports direct-sowing timing (direct) and days to maturity (direct). Checked 2026-06-11.