key growing information

Growing Parsnips from Pelleted Seed

How to grow parsnips from pelleted seed: soil, watering pellets, sowing and slow germination, harvest and overwintering, storage, shelf life, rates and a skin-contact caution.

By Hensley’s Seed Co. September 3, 2026

Pelleted Parsnips - Key Growing Information

Washed and trimmed parsnips, ready for storage; pelleted parsnip seed is available for ease of handling and efficiency.

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Pastinaca sativa

CULTURE:

Parsnips need well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0–6.8. Deep, loose, fertile sandy loam or peat soil that holds moisture well gives the straightest, smoothest roots. Pelleted seed needs a bit more care with watering: it does best when the soil stays evenly, moderately moist right through germination. The first watering splits or dissolves the coating, and if the soil then dries out before germination is complete, the seed may not get enough moisture to sprout well.

PLANTING:

Sow in early to mid-spring, ½" deep, with pellets about 2" apart (about 6 per foot) in a 2" band and rows 18–24" apart. Germination usually takes about 3 weeks, so keep the soil from drying out until seedlings emerge.

HARVEST:

Mow off the tops, then loosen with a fork or undercut, or use a root harvester. Parsnips need a full season to grow, and cold weather brings out their sweetness. Dig them in fall or leave them in the ground over winter; for spring digging, harvest before new top growth starts for the best roots.

STORAGE:

Store washed or unwashed in perforated bags or bins at 32°F (0°C) and 95% relative humidity.

PELLET STORAGE:

Pelleting has many benefits, but it does shorten the seed's shelf life, so we suggest using pelleted seed within a year of purchase. Until planting, keep it somewhere cool, dark and dry, away from heat and humidity. If you'd rather keep it in the refrigerator, seal it in an airtight container to protect it from swings in humidity.

AVG. SEEDING RATE:

At 6 pellets per foot (2" spacing) in 24" rows, about 130,680 pellets per acre, or 6,000 per 1,000' of row.

PELLET SIZE:

18.0.

SEED SPECS:

PELLETS/LB.: from 5,400 to 6,100, averaging 5,700.

PACKET:

250 pellets sow about 41'.

CAUTION:

Rarely, touching the foliage can cause a severe skin rash. On hot, sunny days, wear long sleeves and long pants when working with this crop, and wash any exposed skin as soon as you can afterward.