Rainline Garden
When to plant parsnips in Olympia, WA
Plant parsnips from seed, directly in the garden in Olympia, Apr 1 – May 13.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- Thin to 3 to 4 inches apart
- Planting depth
- ½ inch deep
- Frost
- Handles light frost
- First harvest
- About 120 days after planting
Why these dates
Olympia's typical last spring frost is April 29. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 4 weeks before that.
West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.
How to grow parsnips in Olympia
- Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
- Plant seeds Apr 1 – May 13, ½ inch deep, Thin to 3 to 4 inches apart.
- Keep the soil evenly moist until sprouts appear, which can take one to three weeks in cool soil.
- Harvest: Dig roots from late fall through winter, after a few frosts have sweetened them. West of the Cascades they can stay in the ground until early spring.
Key numbers
- 14–28Days to sprout
- 110–130Days to harvest
- About 1 yearSeed life
- Poor sproutingBiggest risk
Growing notes
What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.
Getting parsnips to sprout
Most parsnip failures happen before the seedlings appear. The seed is short-lived, so buy fresh seed every year. It takes two to four weeks to sprout in cool spring soil, and the bed has to stay moist the whole time. A light board or burlap laid over the row, lifted as soon as you see green, helps keep the surface from crusting.
Sow a few radish seeds in the same row. They come up fast, mark where the row is and break the crust for the slower parsnips.
Soil for long roots
Parsnips grow a root 8 to 12 inches long, so they need deep, loose soil with no rocks or lumps of fresh manure, which cause forked roots. Raised beds or deeply dug soil work best in heavy Northwest clay. They're not heavy feeders; well-rotted compost dug in before sowing is enough.
Frost, sweetness and winter storage
Parsnips are a long-season crop meant to be dug after cold weather arrives. A few frosts turn their stored starch into sugar, and the roots get much sweeter. West of the Cascades, just leave them in the ground and dig as needed through winter. East of the Cascades, mulch the row heavily with straw so the ground doesn't freeze solid, or dig and store them in a cold, humid fridge drawer.
Wear gloves and long sleeves when handling the leaves on sunny days: the sap can make skin blister when it's exposed to sunlight.
Common questions
When is the last frost in Olympia, WA?
Typically April 29. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 15. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Olympia Airport.
Is it too late to plant parsnips in Olympia?
The spring planting window runs through May 13. Later plantings tend to struggle in summer heat.
How long until I can harvest parsnips?
About 120 days after planting. Dig roots from late fall through winter, after a few frosts have sweetened them. West of the Cascades they can stay in the ground until early spring.
Why didn't my parsnips come up?
Usually old seed or a seedbed that dried out during the long sprouting time. Use seed packed for this year and keep the surface moist for up to four weeks.
When should I dig parsnips?
From late fall onward, after a few frosts. In mild west-side gardens they can stay in the ground until early spring, when they start to regrow.
Why are my parsnips forked?
Rocks, hard soil or fresh manure in the bed. Loosen the soil deeply and use only well-aged compost.
Also plant in Olympia around the same time
Peas
Radishes
Spinach
Lettuce
Onions
Carrots
Beets
KalePlanting dates for parsnips in nearby areas
- Seattle and Tacoma, WA Mar 15 – Apr 26
- Everett, WA Mar 15 – Apr 26
- Kent, Renton and Auburn, WA Mar 15 – Apr 26
- Bremerton and Port Orchard, WA Mar 15 – Apr 26
- Shelton, WA Mar 30 – May 11
- Portland, OR Mar 15 – Apr 26