root · direct sow
Parsnip: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating parsnip a few times a week needs about 19 plants in ~8 sq ft, worth about $19 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$2.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 5 | ~2 sq ft | ~12 | ~$5 |
| 2 people | 10 | ~4 sq ft | ~24 | ~$10 |
| 4 people | 19 | ~8 sq ft | ~44 | ~$19 |
| 6 people | 28 | ~11 sq ft | ~65 | ~$28 |
Spacing
3" in row · 18" between rows
Sow depth
0.5"
Days to harvest
120 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Feb 20 – Apr 3 | Jun 2 – Jul 7 |
| Zone 4 | Feb 15 – Mar 29 | Jun 12 – Jul 17 |
| Zone 5 | Feb 5 – Mar 19 | Jun 22 – Jul 27 |
| Zone 6 | Jan 26 – Mar 9 | Jul 2 – Aug 6 |
| Zone 7 | Jan 11 – Feb 22 | Jul 12 – Aug 16 |
| Zone 8 | Dec 31 – Feb 11 | Aug 2 – Sep 6 |
| Zone 9 | Nov 28 – Jan 9 | Aug 22 – Sep 26 |
| Zone 10 | Nov 8 – Dec 20 | Sep 1 – Oct 6 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Shoulders 1 to 1.5 inches, but the real signal is the calendar: dig after hard frost, or overwinter and dig first thing in spring for the sweetest roots.
Yield
About 0.5 lbs per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.5 lb).
Watch for
Carrot rust fly · Parsleyworm · Aphids, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with garlic, onion, radish. Keep away from carrot.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
75 kcal · 4.9 g fiber · 17 mg vitamin C · 375 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Parsnip keeps for months in cool storage. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Parsnip planting questions
How many parsnip plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 5 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 19 plants, which takes around 8 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does parsnip need?+
Space plants 3" apart in the row with 18" between rows. Sow 0.5" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant parsnip?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing parsnip worth it?+
At about $2.00/lb retail and ~0.5 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $19 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.