Skirret in Zone 9a & 9b
Sium sisarum
When to plant skirret in zone 9b
Zones 9a and 9b 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 | Dec 21–Dec 28 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Feb 15–Feb 22 |
| Estimated harvest | Feb 15 '28–Feb 22 '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 9's season
Zone 9b's frost-free window runs about 293 days, from February 15 to December 5. 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 9b 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)
← Back to the full zone 9b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Skirret in USDA zone 9b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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