When plants are 4 inches tall thin to 5 inch spacings. The seed germinates slowly, taking as long as 2 to 3 weeks. Keep the soil moist to prevent crusts, or cover the seed with a sand and soil, or peat and soil mix. The row may be marked by mixing in a few radish seeds. Do not use seed more than 1 year old.
Rapid growth is needed for good quality roots.
After thinning, apply a 2 inch mulch. Parsnips form seedheads prematurely if poorly grown. Harvest parsnips any time they are of sufficient size. The flavor is improved by exposure to cold temperatures. This information is for educational purposes only.