annual vegetable
Hollow Crown parsnip
Hollow Crown parsnip is an annual vegetable noted for classic parsnip and frost-sweetened flavor. It grows in USDA zones 3a-9b, prefers full sun and loam and sandy soils, and harvest timing is sweet roots after frost.
Fit and caveats
Hollow Crown parsnip is a root crop, which means the soil matters as much as the variety. Loose, evenly moist soil and correct thinning usually improve harvest more than extra fertilizer.
Best fit
- Cool to moderate-season beds in its listed growing range with loose soil and even moisture.
- Gardeners who want roots, greens, or storage crops from direct seeding.
- Beds where fresh manure and high nitrogen have not been recently applied.
Use caution
- Compacted soil, stones, and crusting cause forked or misshapen roots.
- Drought stress can make roots woody, bitter, cracked, or excessively hot.
- Most root crops are direct-seeded; transplanting usually causes poor shape.
- Thin seedlings early enough that roots have room to size.
Regional notes
- In Southern ZIPs, root quality is usually best in fall, winter, and early spring.
- In northern ZIPs, plant spring crops early and repeat in late summer for fall harvest.
- Use drip or gentle watering while seeds germinate; dry crusted soil is a common failure point.
Comparison note: Compared with leafy greens, Hollow Crown parsnip is less forgiving of poor soil preparation. Compare root crops by soil depth, days to maturity, storage use, and whether the crop tolerates heat in your ZIP.
Photos
Harvest and uses
- Harvest window
- sweet roots after frost
- Yield return
- 0.3-0.5 lb/plant/season
- First harvest
- 95-120 days
- Best for
- Vegetables & herbs
- Notable traits
- classic parsnip, frost-sweetened flavor
Spacing, yield, and timing
How far apart should you plant Hollow Crown parsnip?
Plant Hollow Crown parsnip at 0.3-0.5 ft in-row x 1.5-2 ft rows. Adjust this starting point for trellises, hedges, rootstock, containers, pruning style, or local extension guidance.
How much does Hollow Crown parsnip produce?
Hollow Crown parsnip yield is modeled as 0.3-0.5 lb/plant/season. Treat that as a planning range, because weather, soil, watering, pruning, pests, and local pressure can change the real result.
How long does Hollow Crown parsnip take to produce?
Hollow Crown parsnip usually reaches first useful harvest or display in 95-120 days under suitable conditions.
How do you grow Hollow Crown parsnip?
Grow Hollow Crown parsnip in USDA zones 3a-9b with full light, loam, sandy soil, and medium water. Use 0.3-0.5 ft in-row x 1.5-2 ft rows for layout planning. Match the plant to drainage, heat, chill, and pest pressure before scaling up.
Can Hollow Crown parsnip grow in a container?
Hollow Crown parsnip can start with a container of about 5+ gal (workable). Larger containers usually buffer heat and moisture swings better than the minimum.
- 10-year return
- 3-5 lb/10 yrs
- Full output
- This season
- Planting depth
- Set transplants at nursery depth or follow seed-packet depth for direct sowing.
- Productive life
- 1 yrs
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Reliability
- 3/5
- Data quality
- Medium profile, Medium yield confidence
Yield varies most with climate, soil, rootstock, pruning, pest pressure, and wildlife.
Estimated Pound Return
Medium yield confidence- Year 1
- 0.3-0.5 lb First-year estimate from the sourced curve.
- Year 5
- 0.3-0.5 lb
- Year 10
- 0.3-0.5 lb
- 10-year total
- 3-5 lb/10 yrs
Shaded band shows the sourced low-to-high pound-yield range. The line tracks the midpoint for quick comparison.
Method: direct pound yield from crop metric source. Annual crops assume one comparable planting per year; perennial crops ramp from first bearing to full production.
Planting, care, and risk checks
Checklist
8 itemsAffiliate links may earn a commission.
- View
Seed-starting trays
Propagation / Pre-seasonStart annual vegetables, herbs, and flowers ahead of transplant season.
- View
Floating row cover
Protection / At plantingProtect young crops from wind, light frost, and early pest pressure while still letting light and water through.
- View
Right-size container with drainage
Containers / Before plantingUse a container large enough for mature roots, with open drainage holes to prevent root rot.
- View
Expanding container potting mix
Containers / Before plantingUse a lighter container medium instead of dense garden soil in pots and grow bags.
- View
Seedling grow light
Propagation / Pre-seasonKeep indoor seedlings compact and sturdy before they move outside.
- View
Balanced garden fertilizer
Nutrition / During growthFeed annual vegetables, herbs, flowers, and hungry container crops according to soil or label guidance.
- View
Soil thermometer
Timing / Before plantingCheck whether spring soil is actually warm enough for direct sowing, transplanting, and tender warm-season crops.
- View
Soil test kit or lab mailer
Site prep / Before plantingCheck pH and baseline nutrients before adding amendments, especially for fruiting crops, native beds, and acid-loving plants.
Planting strategy
- Planting depth: Set transplants at nursery depth or follow seed-packet depth for direct sowing.
- Container minimum: 5+ gal (workable). Use 5+ gal for most single vegetable plants; smaller leafy/root crops can use less.
- Start with one plant when testing fit in a new bed or container.
- Plant more than one when harvest volume or pollination is the main goal.
Risk factors
- Deer pressure: Not rated. No deer-resistance category is assigned yet; treat browsing risk as local and variable.
- Black walnut: Mixed or uncertain. Use as a black walnut / juglone planning cue; tolerance varies by cultivar, soil, and distance from the tree.
- Match the site first: full light, loam, sandy soil, and medium water.
- Use 0.3-0.5 ft in-row x 1.5-2 ft rows as the first spacing model; adjust for hedges, trellises, containers, or local guidance.
- Plan around mature size: 1-2 ft H x 0.5-1 ft W.
- For harvest planning, treat "sweet roots after frost" and 0.3-0.5 lb/plant/season as planning ranges, not guarantees.
- Local drainage, pests, chill hours, wildlife pressure, and microclimates can change the result.
Related planning guides
Comparable plants
Sources and methodology
This guide combines hardiness range, light, soil, water, harvest timing, traits, supplier links, plant relationships, and quantitative planning metrics. Pairings are screened for practical garden fit.
Quantitative values use extension and botanical-reference ranges where available. For less-studied cultivars, similar crops fill gaps conservatively. Ranges are intentionally broad so the profile stays useful without pretending to be exact.
Planning sources: UGA Extension - Growing Vegetables OrganicallyCornell Cooperative Extension - Recommended Spacing and Expected Yield for Garden VegetablesUniversity of Maine Extension - Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable GardenUniversity of Maryland Extension - Types of Containers for Growing VegetablesIllinois Extension - Growing Vegetables in Containers
Editorial sources: NC State Extension: Home Vegetable Gardening, A Quick Reference GuideUGA Extension: Home GardeningVirginia Cooperative Extension: Home Garden Vegetable Planting GuideUniversity of Minnesota Extension: Growing turnips and rutabagas in home gardens
Affiliate listing: Amazon. Search links are not paid placements unless explicitly marked; affiliate listings may earn a commission. Last reviewed: 2026-05-31.