Parsnip in Zone 3a & 3b
Pastinaca sativa
Yes, parsnip grows in zones 3a and 3b. Plant it outside May 16–May 23.
When to plant parsnip in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 16–May 23 |
| Estimated harvest | Sep 3–Sep 10 (~110 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 3b
These go outside within two weeks of parsnip in zone 3b, so one planting day can cover them.
- OnionMay 9–May 16
- RadishMay 2–May 9
- CarrotMay 9–May 16
- CabbageMay 16–May 23
- LettuceMay 16–May 23
- BroccoliMay 16–May 23
Parsnip looks like a pale carrot and grows much the same way, but it takes considerably longer in the ground and rewards leaving it there past the season's first frost.
How parsnip fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Parsnip needs about 110 days from sowing to first harvest.
Parsnip planting windows in every zone
Zone 3b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Not usually | May 6–May 13 | Aug 24–Aug 31 |
| 3a & 3b (your zone) | Not usually | May 16–May 23 | Sep 3–Sep 10 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 1–May 8 | Aug 19–Aug 26 |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | Apr 26–May 3 | Aug 14–Aug 21 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 11–Apr 18 | Jul 30–Aug 6 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Mar 27–Apr 3 | Jul 15–Jul 22 |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Mar 11–Mar 18 | Jun 29–Jul 6 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 1–Feb 8 | May 22–May 29 |
Harvest dates are about 110 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for parsnip.
Where to buy parsnip seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee (each supplier's parsnip seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Javelin F1 (Pastinaca sativa): Parsnip canker, a fungal disease that rots the shoulder of the root while it's still in the ground, is the crop's main letdown after all that patience. Buy: Botanical Interests Full notes
- Panorama F1 (Organic): A longer-season type at 120 days with long, slim, tapered roots, per Johnny's, and wide geographic adaptability the company specifically calls out for the Midwest and Northeast. Buy: High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing parsnip" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Parsnip in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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