Slow to germinate; frost improves sweetness; direct sow early for fall harvest
Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.
| Zone | Last Frost | Start Indoors | Transplant | Direct Sow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2A | May 30 | — | — | May 2 |
| Zone 3B | May 15 | — | — | Apr 17 |
| Zone 4A | May 8 | — | — | Apr 10 |
| Zone 4B | May 1 | — | — | Apr 3 |
| Zone 5A | Apr 25 | — | — | Mar 28 |
| Zone 5B | Apr 18 | — | — | Mar 21 |
| Zone 6A | Apr 21 | — | — | Mar 24 |
| Zone 6B | Apr 10 | — | — | Mar 13 |
| Zone 7A | Apr 5 | — | — | Mar 8 |
| Zone 7B | Mar 28 | — | — | Feb 28 |
| Zone 8A | Mar 20 | — | — | Feb 20 |
| Zone 8B | Mar 12 | — | — | Feb 12 |
| Zone 9A | Feb 28 | — | — | Jan 31 |
| Zone 9B | Feb 15 | — | — | Jan 18 |
| Zone 10A | Feb 1 | — | — | Jan 4 |
| Zone 10B | Jan 15 | — | — | Dec 18 |
| Zone 11A | Jan 1 | — | — | Dec 4 |
Parsnips are slow to germinate but enormously rewarding — especially after a frost converts their starches to sugars. Think of them as the caramelized carrot.
Good companions: garlic, onions, rosemary
Avoid planting near: carrots (same pests and diseases)
100-130 days; best after first frost in fall