Skirret in Zone 8a & 8b
Sium sisarum
When to plant skirret in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b 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 | Jan 28–Feb 4 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar 25–Apr 1 |
| Estimated harvest | Mar 24 '28–Mar 31 '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 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. 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 8b 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 →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a genuine consensus of positive, independent reviews. See the sources cited on each item.
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)
← Back to the full zone 8b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Skirret in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
Save to Pinterest