Pastinaca sativa Parsnips

Planting position: Full sun. For areas without very hot seasons. Spacing of 7cm between plants 40cm between rows.
Requires regular watering (less during germination period). Well-draining, compost-enriched loamy soil and layers of grass clippings mulching. Added 2:3:2 to preparing beds, at a rate of 65g.m ² and apply side dressings of 2:3:2 when roots form.
Propagate from (slow germinating) seed sown in situ.
Harvesting is done from 6months after transplanting, when roots can be uplifted with a fork from moist soil.
Pests, diseases and their cures: Leaf spot and canker - spray the leaves with mancozeb. Caterpillars - spray with mercaptothion.

This family member of carrots produce a long, edible, tapering taproot, small yellow flowers and seed. The fleshy, sweet Parsnip root is white to cream and eaten when fried, boiled, roasted, mashed or in stews and other dishes.