Whole and sliced Hollow Crown Parsnips on a white background.
Parsnip Seeds, Hollow Crown
Hollow Crown Parsnip close-up on marble countertop.
Parsnip Seeds, Hollow Crown
Hollow Crown Parsnip pulled fresh from garden.
Whole and sliced Hollow Crown Parsnips on a white background.
Parsnip Seeds, Hollow Crown
Hollow Crown Parsnip close-up on marble countertop.
Parsnip Seeds, Hollow Crown
Hollow Crown Parsnip pulled fresh from garden.

Parsnip Seeds,
Hollow Crown

3.914 ReviewsSKU: #PR101Min. seed count: 600
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Description

Tasty, white, long roots, sweet flavor. Harvest after frost; a standard in all fall gardens. A popular variety in the 1820s.

Growing Tips: Parsnips require deep, light, fluffy soil. Double-dig the planting bed and amend with well-composted manure. Plant in earliest spring, as soon as soil can be worked.

Plant Details

Botanical Name
Pastinaca sativa
Life Cycle
Biennial
Sun Requirement
6–12 hr.
Days to Germinate
21–28
Days to Maturity
95–120
Planting Depth
¼–½ in.
Plant Spacing
6 in.
Ideal Temperature
50–75°F
Frost Hardy
Yes

When to Grow

Southern gardeners should sow Hollow Crown in fall for a spring harvest; northern gardeners should sow 2–4 weeks before the last spring frost. Set the seed ½ inch deep and sow densely; germination is slow and usually very sparse, taking 21–28 days at 50–75°F, and plants should be thinned to 6 inches.

These long roots need 95–120 days. Harvest after frost; it is a standard in all fall gardens.

How to Sow and Plant

  • Southern gardeners should sow seeds in fall for spring harvest. Northern gardeners should sow seeds 2-4 weeks before last frost.
  • Plant seeds 1⁄2 inch deep and seed densely. The seeds will germinate slowly, and germination is usually very sparse.
  • Try interplanting parsnips with radishes; the latter will help mark the row and you will harvest them well before the parsnips become crowded.
  • Thin parsnips to 4 inches; they like lots of space per plant and they won’t thrive under competition from weeds.
  • Ideal germination temperature is 50-75 F.
  • Seeds germinate in 21-28 days.

How to Grow

  • Parsnips do not like hot weather, yet they require a long season. This can present a challenge to some gardeners; however, proper timing will ensure a sweet, successful crop.
  • Parsnips require deep, light, well-drained soil. Double dig the planting bed 12 inches deep and remove all stones and dirt clods. Amend with well-composted manure.
  • Plant parsnips in full sun.
  • Try straw mulch or careful cultivation, being sure not to damage the feeder roots.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • Carrot rust fly can be a problem. Be sure to pull all parsnips from the ground when harvesting to limit the larvae overwintering. Row covers can also be helpful.

How to Save Seeds

  • Parsnips are biennial, so they will not set seed until they’ve experienced a winter’s chill. Fortunately, they are very cold hardy, and with a heavy layer of mulch they can survive the winter and will flower in the spring.
  • Allow plants to flower and the seeds to dry on the plant.
  • Hand pick the dried seeds and store in an airtight container.
  • Parsnip seeds have a short shelf life, often only one or two years!

FAQ

Why is my parsnip seed so slow to come up?

Parsnip seed germinates slowly and germination is usually very sparse, taking 21–28 days at an ideal 50–75°F. Sow densely to compensate, and try interplanting radishes: they mark the row and you will harvest them well before the parsnips become crowded.

What soil do these long roots need?

Deep, light, well-drained soil in full sun. Double dig the planting bed 12 inches deep, remove all stones and dirt clods, and amend with well-composted manure. Parsnips like lots of space per plant and will not thrive under competition from weeds, so use straw mulch or cultivate carefully without damaging the feeder roots.

When do I harvest Hollow Crown?

Harvest after frost. The roots are tasty, white, long and sweet-flavored, and this was a popular variety back in the 1820s.
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