This vegetable was popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans, and has been grown in America since the first colonists brought it over from Europe. Unfortunately, not many gardeners grow parsnips, perhaps because they take so long to mature. Their flavor, however, is worth the wait. Parsnips are tasty by themselves, as well as in soups and in stews.
Some gardeners say that if you can grow parsnips, carrots and beets, you can grow anything. But parsnips aren't really hard. The tricky part is getting them to germinate. Soak the seeds for 24 hours before planting and mulch the row with peat moss or sawdust to keep the soil from forming a crust. Then be patient -- parsnips can take up to three weeks to sprout! But once they're up and growing, just leave them in the ground until after a few frosts for a great-tasting spring treat!
Varieties1. History of Root Crops |
2. All About Horseradish |
3. Beet Varieties |
4. Carrot Varieties |
5. Radish Varieties |
6. Celeriac - Lazy Man's Celery |
7. Turnip and Rutabaga Varieties |
8. Parsnip Varieties ← you're on this article right now |
9. All About Salsify |
10. Selecting Root Crop Seeds |
11. Planning Your Root Crop Garden |
12. How Root Crops Grow |
13. Carrot Essentials |
14. Parsnip Essentials |
15. Radish Essentials |
16. Turnip Essentials |