Parsnip Seeds

The wild parsnip, or Pastinaca sativa, is a native of Northern Europe, including Britain. It is usually found on dry grassland and often on calcareous soils. The name 'Pastinaca' was originally given to the carrot, and it was only later that it was transferred to the parsnip. It has been cultivated since at least Roman times; in fact, Emperor Tiberius regarded parsnips so highly that he allowed Germany to pay part of its tax to him in them.

Parsnips are a highly versatile vegetable. They are a classic Sunday roast staple and are ideal for soups, stews, and salads. They taste just as delicious no matter whether you bake, boil, fry, or mash them. They can even be used to make desserts, such as parsnip cake or parsnip sticky toffee pudding. Browse our collection of vegetable seeds, where you can find many quality parsnip varieties for your growing space.

Growing Parsnip from Seed

Parsnip seeds should be sown between April and June when temperatures are a little higher. They are generally low maintenance during their growing period, though germination can be a little difficult. They germinate slowly, so require around two or three weeks to do so. Therefore, you should keep the soil moist to speed up the process.

Parsnips are hardy plants that need little to no maintenance during their growing period. Once planted in an open and sunny site with free drainage, they only require watering in especially dry conditions. However, they do need a long growing period to reach their potential.

Growing parsnip seeds can be a highly rewarding experience. They are packed with important nutrients, such as vitamin C, dietary fibre, and protective antioxidants. You can begin enjoying your parsnips when their roots have reached full size, which tends to be around September onwards.

Order Your Parsnip Seeds Today

At D.T. Brown Seeds, we have been selling vegetable garden seeds and plants to UK home gardeners for over a century. From bean seeds to carrot seeds, all of our vegetable seeds are stringently tested for the highest germination rates – 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

Order your parsnip seeds today from D.T. Brown Seeds. Shop now and enjoy fast UK delivery, with P&P from just £2.45 on seed-only orders. We aim to dispatch all UK seed orders within 3-5 working days, and anything else within 5-7 working days. Live products will be dispatched at their optimum time for planting.