Zone 7 · Root Vegetables Growing Guide

When to Plant Parsnip
in Zone 7

Slow to germinate, long to mature — but worth it. Frost turns starch to sugar; the sweetest parsnips are dug after a hard freeze. Needs deep, loose soil just like carrots.

Plant outdoors
Mar 1 – Apr 15
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~Mar 15
Days to harvest
100–130 days
Difficulty
Medium
Growing — Zone 7
Harvest window: Sep – Jan

Planting Calendar

In Zone 7, Parsnip should be planted outdoors Mar 1 – Apr 15, after the average last frost date of approximately Mar 15.

Near year-round harvest possible. In-ground storage through winter.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 6–8 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
3–4 inches
Soil
Deep, loose, sandy loam — same as carrots
Days to maturity
100–130 days
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
plant tip · Zone 7

Near year-round harvest possible. In-ground storage through winter.

Feeding Schedule

How often
once at planting
Feed type
low nitrogen (5-10-10)
Key timing
before sowing

Like carrots, avoid excess nitrogen. Prepare the bed with a low-nitrogen fertilizer before sowing for best root development.

Companion Planting for Parsnip

What you plant next to parsnip makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Lettuce
  • Peas
  • Radishes
Keep away from
  • Carrots
  • Fennel

These guides get better when growers like you contribute. If something’s wrong or you’ve learned something worth sharing, we’d love to hear it.

What needs correcting?

What should it say?

Your zone (optional)

Thanks — we'll review this and update the guide if needed.

Your growing tip for Parsnip

Your name (optional)

Your zone (optional)

Tips are reviewed before publishing. Accepted tips earn you a Founding Grower badge when the plant app launches.

Thanks for contributing! We'll review your tip and be in touch before launch.

Common questions

In Zone 7, direct sow parsnip outdoors Mar 1 – Apr 15 after your last frost date of approximately Mar 15. Near year-round harvest possible. In-ground storage through winter.
Zone 7 has an average last spring frost of approximately Mar 15 and a first fall frost around Nov 15. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for parsnip include Lettuce, Peas, Radishes. Avoid planting near Carrots, Fennel, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Parsnip typically takes 100–130 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 7. Expected harvest window: Sep – Jan.

Free app · iOS February 2028

Track your Parsnip in plant

Get a live traffic light for every crop in your garden — zone-aware planting calendar, real-time weather alerts, and a community of growers near you.

Be first to back on Kickstarter and lock in the founding price.

Parsnip in other zones
Crop Guides