Pastinaca sativa

Cultivation

Sow directly to the garden in spring, like parsley.

Distance between plants

At least 40 cm (15 in) between rows and at least 10 cm (4 in) between plants in a row.

Location

Half-shaded.

Amount

To 30 plants per person.

Time of planting

End of April till May. It germinates in 15 to 20 days.

Fertilization

It doesn’t take barn manure well. Use home compost.

Watering

Its deep root makes it less moisture-demanding than parsley, but it still has to be watered in drought.

Parsnip’s good neighbors

Onion, garlic, beetroot, radish, kohlrabi, potato, peppers, cucumbers, celery, spinach, lettuce.

Parsnip’s bad neighbors

Radicchio, parsley, carrots, cumin.

Diseases and pests

It is less sensitive than parsley. You can get rid of grey mould by washing the plant with gentle jets of water. If the attack is more serious, cut off the leaves and wait for new to grow.

Parsnip’s storage

Cut the leaves regularly when needed. To store, they are better dried than frozen. Store the roots in fall. It can survive winter outside if you cut off its leaves and cover with straw.

Food

Use it like parsley, but in smaller amounts, as its aroma is stronger. It contains a lot of potassium, phosphorus and calcium and strong essential oils.

Important

It can cause skin allergies to sensitive people, especially in summer heat.

Miscellaneous

It is similar to parsley and is often sown mistakenly as one. It has larger and more aromatic leaves than parsley.