Skirret in Zone 6a & 6b
Sium sisarum
When to plant skirret in zone 6b
Zones 6a and 6b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Skirret tolerates either.
| Start indoors | Feb 28–Mar 7 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 25–May 2 |
| Estimated harvest | Apr 24 '28–May 1 '28 (First real harvest the season after planting) |
Spacing: about 2 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-2.5 ft.
Skirret is a minor European root crop, related to carrot and parsnip, that's been repeatedly lost and rediscovered over the centuries. It's rarely grown today, though not for lack of flavor: cooked roots taste sweet and soft, something like a cross between carrot and potato.
How skirret fits zone 6's season
Zone 6b's frost-free window runs about 173 days, from April 25 to October 15. Skirret takes about 1 growing season to reach first worthwhile harvest, so what matters here is how many of these seasons it gets, not whether one is long enough.
Skirret is hardy in zones 5-9, so in zone 6b it stays in the ground through winter and comes back rather than being replanted. Allow about 1 ft of spread at maturity.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Skirret.
Where to buy skirret seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing skirret" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
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Growing Skirret in USDA zone 6b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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