Parsnip (Hollow Crown)

📖 About This Plant

Parsnip (Hollow Crown) is a classic British heirloom root vegetable producing long, creamy-white roots with a sweet, nutty flavor that intensifies dramatically after frost. The Hollow Crown cultivar — named for the characteristic depression at its crown — grows roots 10–12 inches long and 3 inches across, maturing in 100–120 days. Hardy in zones 3–9, parsnips thrive in deep, loose soil and are ideally sown in early spring or late summer. The cold-sweetening process (starch converting to sugar below 32°F) makes fall and winter harvests far superior to summer pulls.

📊 Quick Facts

📅 When to Plant in Your Area

🌱 Care Tips

Sow parsnip seeds directly in deep, stone-free, well-loosened soil in early spring (4–6 weeks before last frost) or late summer for a fall/winter harvest. Seeds are notoriously slow to germinate (2–3 weeks); use fresh seed each year as viability drops sharply. Thin to 3–4 inches apart. Keep consistently moist during germination. Parsnips need deep (12+ inch), unobstructed soil — raised beds or double-dug rows work best. Fertilize lightly; excess nitrogen produces forked, hairy roots. Leave roots in the ground through multiple frosts for maximum sweetness — they're perfectly safe to harvest into winter. Store harvested roots in damp sand in a cool root cellar for months.

🤝 Companion Plants

These plants grow well alongside Parsnip:

🌿 Related Vegetable

More vegetable that grow in similar conditions:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions