Planting and Care for Good Parsnip Harvesting
Plant parsnip seeds ¼ to ½ inch (6-13 mm.) deep in rows, 12 inches (31 cm.) apart about two to three weeks before the last frost in spring. Parsnips perform best when planted in a sunny spot in well-drained, organic rich soil. Other root vegetables such as garlic, potatoes, radishes, and onions make excellent companions to parsnips. Caring for parsnips is an important step for a good parsnip harvest. Parsnips should be kept weed free and swallowtail-butterfly caterpillars should be handpicked off. Water parsnip plants thoroughly, once a week, during periods of dry weather.
When are Parsnips Ready to Pick?
To get the most from your parsnip harvesting, it helps to know when are parsnips ready to pick. Although parsnips mature in around four months or 100 to 120 days, many gardeners leave them in the ground over winter. Parsnip harvesting occurs when the roots reach their full size. Keep track of when you plant your seeds so you will know approximately when to harvest parsnips.
How to Harvest a Parsnip Root
Once your parsnips are ready, you’ll need to know how to harvest a parsnip root. Harvesting parsnip root vegetables has to be done extremely carefully, as broken or damaged roots don’t store well. Begin parsnip harvesting by trimming all of the foliage to within 1 inch (2.5 cm.) of the roots. Carefully dig up the roots with a clean spading fork. Expect roots to be between 1 ½ and 2 inches (4-5 cm.) in diameter and 8 to 12 inches (20-31 cm.) long.
