# Parsnip gardening question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parsnip-gardening-question/974692>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** gardening\
**Created:** [November 10, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parsnip-gardening-question/974692 "2022-11-10T14:27:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parsnip-gardening-question/974692/1 "2022-11-10T14:27:46Z")

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I planted parsnips this year. Everything in the universe says “wait until after the first frost” to harvest. Okay: HOW LONG AFTER? Nobody will tell me! It says that this is what converts the starches to sugars, which I assume isn’t instantaneous. Some things say “after a few frosts.” Three days? Three weeks?

If anyone knows, I’d appreciate an answer.

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**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parsnip-gardening-question/974692/2 "2022-11-10T18:19:28Z")

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My mom would wait until after the first really hard frost [like 25F, usually there would be a couple 32/31F frosts first]

I have a black thumb, so I only remember what she did. Hope it works, I love parsnips =)

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**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parsnip-gardening-question/974692/3 "2022-11-11T02:49:26Z")

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This link says parsnips require 2-4 weeks of near-freezing temperatures to taste their best.

> **[Harvesting Parsnip Root: When Are Parsnips Ready To Pick](https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/parsnips/how-to-harvest-parsnips.htm)**
>
> Parsnips are a cool season root vegetable that requires at least 2 to 4 weeks of close to freezing temperatures to taste its best. When are parsnips ready to pick? Read this article to find out more about harvesting parsnips.

You DEFINITELY want to get them out of the ground before it freezes solid, unless you mulch it heavily, because the taproots are surprisingly long.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parsnip-gardening-question/974692/4 "2022-11-11T03:03:34Z")

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Thank you both: this is precisely what I needed & couldn’t find. I’m in Vancouver, so the soil won’t freeze like that: and I should have homemade parsnips by American Thanksgiving (if I start at the 2-week point).

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**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parsnip-gardening-question/974692/5 "2022-11-12T04:31:19Z")

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> [@nearwildheaven](#):
>
> You DEFINITELY want to get them out of the ground before it freezes solid

Or dig them next spring. It needs to be early in the spring, though; once the tops start growing again, they pull nutrients out of the roots, and the roots will be increasingly less good to eat as the tops gain size.