Parsnips, a hardy root vegetable with a slightly sweet flavor, are making a comeback in gardens and kitchens alike. Want to grow them yourself? Here’s a guide on how to harvest and store parsnips so you can enjoy this delicious vegetable year-round!
How and When to Harvest Parsnips?
Parsnips are typically sown from February to June, and they thrive in a sunny location with light, loose, and deep soil. If you’re short on time, consider sowing the seeds under cover, such as in market garden greenhouses, chassis, or forcing tunnels, to protect them from frost.
Here’s how to sow parsnips:
- Dig furrows about 1 cm deep
- Space furrows 30 cm apart
- Place the seeds in the furrows
- Cover with a thin layer of soil and water regularly
Parsnips take about 5 months to grow and are typically ready for harvest in autumn. Wait until the soil is loose enough to pull the roots without damaging them.
How to Store Parsnips?
Good news—you can leave parsnips in the ground and harvest them as needed, as they are frost-resistant. In fact, mature parsnips can survive part of the winter in the garden. However, for longer storage, you can harvest and store them in the refrigerator at temperatures between 0–4°C. Simply place them in a bag in a high-humidity compartment.
It’s not necessary to clean the parsnips, but be sure to cut off the green tops, leaving about 2.5 cm of the stem.
If you’d like to store your parsnips for an even longer period, you can freeze them:
- Blanch the parsnips in boiling water for a few minutes.
- Dip them in ice water to stop the cooking process.
- Let them drain, then place in the freezer.
You can also freeze cooked parsnips—just let them cool before freezing.
Final Tips for Parsnip Growing Success
Parsnips are an easy-to-grow vegetable with several varieties, including round, semi-long, and long parsnips. For best results, rotate your crops each year to avoid depleting the soil. Consider planting leafy vegetables like cabbage and beans before your parsnips. And, for a long-term supply, save a few roots for seed production.
Now, with these tips, you’re ready to harvest and store your parsnips!
