Skirret in Zone 9a & 9b
Sium sisarum
Yes, skirret grows in zones 9a and 9b and comes back each year. Start seeds indoors Dec 21–Dec 28 and plant out Feb 15–Feb 22.
When to plant skirret in zone 9b
Zones 9a and 9b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Dec 21–Dec 28 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Feb 15–Feb 22 |
| Estimated harvest | 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.
Before you plant: Skirret has a winter-hardiness note for zone 9b. See the details below.
Plant alongside it in zone 9b
These go outside within two weeks of skirret in zone 9b, so one planting day can cover them.
- CabbageFeb 1–Feb 8
- TomatoMar 1–Mar 8
- Bush BeansFeb 22–Mar 1
- Sweet CornFeb 22–Mar 1
- LettuceFeb 1–Feb 8
- CucumberFeb 22–Mar 1
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.
Skirret planting windows in every zone
Zone 9b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5a & 5b | Mar 15–Mar 22 | May 10–May 17 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 6a & 6b | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 25–May 2 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 13–Feb 20 | Apr 10–Apr 17 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 25–Apr 1 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 9a & 9b (your zone) | Dec 21–Dec 28 | Feb 15–Feb 22 | First real harvest the season after planting |
Good companions
No well-established companions for skirret.
Where to buy skirret seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries skirret seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
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 clear consensus of positive, independent reviews, or ones we bought and use ourselves. Each item on our gear page says which.
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 · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Skirret in USDA zone 9b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
Save to Pinterest