When to Plant Parsnip in Perth, Mediterranean Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Perth), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Mediterranean
In October the Mediterranean zone normally runs 22°C by day and 10°C overnight, with about 38 mm of rain over 6 or 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 19 postcodes, SILO.
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This Parsnip guide is written for the Mediterranean zone, which takes in Perth, Adelaide and Bunbury. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- All year
- Days to harvest
- about 14 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 12 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–6.8
- Shop price
- $12.00/kg at one shop
Parsnips are a cool-season root vegetable prized for their sweet, nutty flavour which intensifies after frost exposure. They are slow-growing and demand patience, but reward with excellent yields.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Mediterranean
- Jan D
- Feb D
- Mar D
- Apr D
- May D
- Jun D
- Jul D
- Aug D
- Sep D
- Oct D
- Nov D
- Dec D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
You can sow parsnip in any month in Mediterranean, but the months are not equal. Summer heat brings faster bolting and heavier pest pressure, so pick a heat tolerant variety, sow little and often, and give afternoon shade from December through February.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Mediterranean zone right now, Parsnip included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Parsnip in Mediterranean Australia
- Soil
- Deep, loose, stone-free loam. Dig to at least 30-40cm depth. Avoid heavy clay or stony soil which causes forked, stunted roots. Do not use fresh manure. This also causes forking.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-6.8
- Sunlight
- Full sun to light afternoon shade
- Spacing
- 12cm apart, 40cm between rows
- Watering
- Consistent deep watering throughout the growing season. Inconsistent watering causes cracking and woody cores. Water deeply once or twice per week. Reduce watering slightly as roots approach maturity.
- Good companions
- Radish (as row markers), Dwarf Beans, Onion, Garlic, Peas
- Keep away from
- Burdock, Carrot (shares pests), Celeriac (shares diseases), Celery (Listed under keep apart from celery. No reason is given.), Dill
- Grow before it
- Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)
- Grow after it
- Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Give the bed 3 turns before root crops go back in. Roots fork and go leafy in fresh manure, so they take the bed after the heavy feeders have used it.
Mediterranean Growing Tips for Parsnip
Recommended Varieties
- Hollow Crown
- Melbourne Whiteskin
- Guernsey
- Javelin
Key Challenges
- Dry spring/summer can stress maturing roots
- Canker in wet winter conditions
Pro Tips
- Perth and Adelaide climates suit parsnips well during the cooler months
- Take advantage of winter rain for establishment, then irrigate through dry spring
- Frost sweetening may occur in inland areas. Leave roots in ground if frost expected
Pests and problems for Parsnip in Mediterranean
- Carrot Fly Larvae Moderate
- Powdery Mildew Space plants adequately for airflow. Avoid overhead watering. Grow in full sun. Remove old crop debris. Watch
- Wireworms Watch
- Aphids Watch
- Parsnip Canker Maintain soil pH above 6.0 (lime if necessary). Ensure good drainage. Avoid damaging roots during weeding. Grow canker-resistant varieties... Watch
Harvesting Parsnip
When ready: Foliage begins to yellow and die back. Roots should be at least 5cm diameter at the crown. Flavour improves significantly after first frost. Can be left in the ground and harvested as needed.
How to harvest: Loosen soil deeply alongside the root with a fork before lifting. Never pull directly. Parsnip roots snap easily. Trim foliage to 2cm. Use immediately or store.
Storing and preserving parsnip
How to keep it
- Root Cellar / Sand Storage. Harvest undamaged roots. Do not wash. Brush off loose soil. Layer in boxes of damp sand or sawdust. Store in a cool (1-4C), dark location. Check monthly for rot. Keeps: 3-6 months.
- Freezing. Peel and cut into chunks or slices. Blanch in boiling water for 3 minutes. Plunge into ice water. Drain and pack into freezer bags, removing air. Alternatively, roast chunks with oil, cool, and freeze on trays before bagging. Keeps: 10-12 months.
- Dehydrating. Peel and slice into 3mm slices or grate. Blanch 3 minutes, pat dry. Dehydrate at 55-60C for 8-12 hours until crisp. Store in airtight jars. Rehydrate in soups and stews. Keeps: 12 months.
- In-Ground Storage. Leave roots in the ground and harvest as needed. Apply 10-15cm mulch to insulate soil. Flavour improves with cold exposure. This is the simplest and best preservation method for parsnips. Keeps: 4-6 months in ground (until spring regrowth begins).
- Parsnip Chips/Crisps. Peel and slice very thinly (mandoline recommended). Toss with olive oil and salt. Bake at 180C for 15-20 minutes until golden and crisp. Store in airtight container once completely cool. Keeps: 1-2 weeks in airtight container.
Canning safety. Low-acid vegetables like parsnip must be pressure canned, never water-bath canned.
Grow vs buy
A 2.4 m × 1.2 m bed fits 46 plants, about $110 worth at today’s Coles prices, checked on 23 October.
That is roughly 9 kg at $12.00 a kilo.
Draw your parsnip bed → No account needed.
What parsnip costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Parsnip
When do you plant parsnip in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Jun
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Feb to May, Aug to Sep
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Sep to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to May
- Mediterranean (Perth): all year
Can you grow parsnip all year round in Perth?
Yes, every month is on the calendar for the Mediterranean zone, though not every month is equally easy. Sow direct into moist soil; autumn sowings are the most reliable. Summer sowings need daily watering to germinate.
When should I plant Parsnip in Perth?
Sow direct into moist soil; autumn sowings are the most reliable. Summer sowings need daily watering to germinate.
What soil temperature do Parsnip need?
Parsnip germinate best when soil temperature is between 10°C and 21°C.
How do I know when Parsnip are ready to harvest?
Foliage begins to yellow and die back. Roots should be at least 5cm diameter at the crown. Flavour improves significantly after first frost. Can be left in the ground and harvested as needed.
What are the best Parsnip varieties for Perth?
Recommended varieties for the Mediterranean zone include: Hollow Crown, Melbourne Whiteskin, Guernsey, Javelin.
What grows well with Parsnip?
Good companion plants for Parsnip include: Radish, Dwarf Beans, Onion, Garlic, Peas.
Are parsnip salt tolerant?
No. Parsnip are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Mediterranean zone, Perth is its reference city.