Parsnips are biennial, but are grown commercially as an annual. The edible portion is the enlarged fleshy tap root. There is a good demand for parsnips throughout the year, especially in the cooler months.
Production is mainly from growers in the Perth Metropolitan Area.
The crop is not liked by some growers because it has a long maturity time and the roots are difficult to harvest. Most parsnips are sold on the domestic market, but in recent years there has been a small export market to the United Kingdom from March to May, and also to Singapore. Soil Parsnips have an effective rooting depth of 35 to 50 cm and grow well in deep, sandy soils. Acid soils should be limed before planting. Heavy soils and stony soils are not suitable for parsnips.