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From the breeders of Lancer, this improved parsnip has better uniformity in shape with a deep crown set and broad, round shoulders. The roots are very white with smooth skins and a fine, mellow flavour that is gorgeous as a roasted vegetable or simply chopped into soups and stews. It has very good storage ability both in the ground and in cold storage. The ideal size for harvest is 28cm (11"), but the roots will keep growing if left in the ground. White Spear parsnip is the best choice for early spring planting and harvesting in early summer.
Take caution during sunny weather: touching the plant may cause skin burns.
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Latin
Latin
Pastinaca sativa
Family: Apiaceae
Difficulty
Easy
We Recommend
We Recommend: Gladiator (PN581). This hybrid parsnip was bred to be fast-growing, uniform, and large – and we’ve seen some HUGE ones. At any size it has very appealing, mild flavour and it’s firm without being woody.
Timing
Direct sow from the last frost date to mid-summer Optimal soil temperature for germination: 10-25°C (50-75°F). Seeds take 14-21 days to germinate.
Starting
Starting
Sow seeds 5mm-1cm (¼-½”) deep. Cover seeds with compost and/or put row cover over planting area to shade the soil and conserve moisture. Thin to 7-10 cm (3-4″) apart in rows 45-60cm (18-24″) apart.
Days to Maturity
Days to Maturity: From direct sowing.
Growing
Growing
Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. Prepare ground as for carrots, digging deeply to loosen soil prior to planting For even longer parsnips, you can dig or form holes 60cm (24″) deep. Weed carefully and keep watered. Contact with parsnip leaves causes a rash in some people, so harvest and weed with long sleeves and gloves.
Harvest
Harvest
The flavour of parsnips is best after a couple of good frosts. Dig parsnips from late summer into the winter as needed. Protect from freezing in the soil with a thick straw mulch if it is a cold winter. Parsnips keep better in well-drained soil. The average family will be well supplied with a 6m (20′) row.
Seed Info
Seed Info
In optimal conditions at least 60% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 1 year. Per 100′ row: 440 seeds, per acre: 128M seeds.
Diseases & Pests
Diseases & Pests
Carrot rust fly maggots may injure the roots of parsnips. The most reliable control is floating row cover. Practice crop rotation to prevent soil-borne disease.
West Coast Seeds is a family-owned company that embraces an organic lifestyle. A group of imagination catalysts and passionate educators, dedicated to producing products and services that better the environment. As part of our mission to repair the earth, we aim to inspire and empower people to take responsibility for the state of the planet. For us, organic is about much more than saying no to chemicals, it is about saying yes to building a healthy soil for the future.
For over 35 years, we have upheld our strong reputation as a leading seed supplier, seeking out the highest quality untreated seeds for organic growing and putting them through rigorous independent testing. We built our company on the exchange of generational wisdom in a masterclass community of newbies and masters alike. Our world may have changed, but our commitment to our people, our customers, and our planet has not.
We’re a values-based business that has blossomed into a lifestyle ethos, with products that support seeders, feeders, keepers, and the tiniest of creepers. Our mission? To mobilize the next generation of gardeners with products that nourish soil and grow vigorous, sustainable gardens. We believe all plants should be grown without the use of chemicals, and that the seeds we supply are an important component of regenerative gardening.
We don’t just offer seeds, we offer experience, insight, and understanding. From timeless garden wisdom to new tech know-how, this is learning on the job: knowledge gleaned not from the pages of a book but from burying our fingers in the soil. We test, experiment, observe and adapt, never happier than when we get to share what we’ve learned with others.
Gardens don’t just grow seeds. They grow minds and imaginations, people and communities. Our vision encompasses both the micro and the macro. We eat locally, protect pollinators, teach people to grow from seed, and support regional biodiversity. We think big but act small and deliver unexpected impact — always with community and purpose.
At West Coast Seeds we believe in the power of small and that little can be large. Like the tiniest seed germinates to evoke incremental change with massive potential, so to can our community of gardeners and growers together. Gardeners are the earth’s stewards, planting seeds of creative declaration. The soil provides the canvas, we provide the seeds.
Direct sow from the last frost date to mid-summer. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 10-25°C (50-75°F). Seeds take 14-21 days to germinate.
Sow seeds 5mm-1cm (¼-½”) deep. Cover seeds with compost and/or put row cover over planting area to shade the soil and conserve moisture. Thin to 7-10 cm (3-4″) apart in rows 45-60cm (18-24″) apart.
Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8.
Prepare ground as for carrots, digging deeply to loosen soil prior to planting For even longer parsnips, you can dig or form holes 60cm (24″) deep. Weed carefully and keep watered. Contact with parsnip leaves causes a rash in some people, so harvest and weed with long sleeves and gloves.
Days to maturity: From direct sowing.
In optimal conditions at least 60% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 1 year. Per 100′ row: 440 seeds, per acre: 128M seeds.
The flavour of parsnips is best after a couple of good frosts. Dig parsnips from late summer into the winter as needed. Protect from freezing in the soil with a thick straw mulch if it is a cold winter. Parsnips keep better in well-drained soil. The average family will be well supplied with a 6m (20′) row.
