When to plant parsnip
Vegetable, half hardy
Direct-sow from 2 weeks before the last frost through the frost date; CSU lists a 35°F germination minimum. Roots take about 100–120 days (Iowa State; CSU lists about 70). Seed is slow, so keep the row moist until it emerges.
The general rule
- Sow outdoors
- 0–2 weeks before the last spring frost
- Plant when soil reaches
- 35°F
- Days to maturity
- 100–120 days
What that means in different climates
The same rule applied to the safer frost dates of cities from cold to frost-free.
| City | Last frost · safer | Sow outdoors |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | Jan 23 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 |
| Tucson, AZ | Mar 2 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 |
| Portland, OR | Mar 21 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Baltimore, MD | Apr 4 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| New York, NY | Apr 12 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Nashville, TN | Apr 16 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Louisville, KY | Apr 23 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Omaha, NE | May 6 | Apr 22 – May 6 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | May 15 | May 1 – May 15 |
| Miami, FL | Frost rare | Frost is rare: fall and winter (soil 35°F+). |