Growing Parsnips in Containers
Quick facts
Container: at least 45 cm deep, with drainage holes
Variety: a shorter, stumpy type suits pots best
Compost: multi-purpose compost, no manure
Sowing: straight into the pot from March to early May, never transplanted
Spacing: thin to one plant every 15 cm
Key moment: choosing a deep enough pot, as the root needs room to grow straight down
Parsnips aren't the most obvious crop for a pot, but they can do well in one. A deep container of fresh compost gives the root exactly what it needs: loose, stone-free soil that it can push straight down through. That makes pots a good option if your garden soil is heavy clay or full of stones, both of which make parsnips fork and twist.
Choosing a container
Depth matters far more than width with parsnips:
Go deep. Choose a container at least 45 cm deep so the root can grow to full length. Tall planters, deep tubs and old dustbins with holes drilled in the base all work well.
Width: a pot around 30 cm across fits three or four parsnips.
Drainage: make sure there are holes in the bottom, and raise the pot on feet or bricks so water can drain away.
Grow bags and shallow troughs are not suitable. The root hits the bottom, then bends or splits.
For more on choosing pots for vegetables, see growing vegetables in containers
Choosing a parsnip variety for pots
Shorter, stockier parsnips suit containers better than the long, tapering types grown for shows. 'Avonresister' is a small-rooted variety that also resists canker, the most common parsnip disease. If you have a very deep container, any variety will grow, but canker-resistant types are still worth choosing.
Compost for container parsnips
Fill the pot with multi-purpose compost. Don't mix in manure or rich garden compost, as fresh organic matter makes parsnip roots fork into several legs. Break up any lumps as you fill the pot, and firm it gently so it settles without packing it down hard.
Sowing parsnips in containers
Parsnips grow a single taproot that doesn't recover from being moved, so they must be sown straight into their final pot.
Wait until the weather has warmed up, from March to early May.
Water the compost first.
Sow three seeds together at spots about 15 cm apart, around 1 cm deep.
Cover lightly and keep the compost damp.
When the seedlings are big enough to handle, pull out the weaker ones to leave one at each spot.
Parsnip seed is slow and can take anywhere from 14 to 30 days to come up. Use fresh seed each year, as old seed often fails.
For sowing times, see when to plant parsnips in the UK
Watering container parsnips
Compost in a pot dries out much faster than garden soil, and the roots can't reach deeper for water. Keep the compost damp while the seed is coming up, then check the pot every day or two in summer and water whenever the top few centimetres feel dry. Steady watering matters in a pot, because a soaking after the compost has dried right out can make the roots split.
For more detail, see how often to water parsnips
Where to put container parsnips
Stand the pot in full sun. Parsnips are in their container for most of the year, so choose a spot where it can stay put, as a deep pot full of damp compost is heavy to move.
Protecting container parsnips
Carrot fly attacks parsnips as well as carrots, and pots don't keep it away. The most reliable protection is fine insect-proof mesh over the pot from sowing day. Try not to brush the leaves when you're working around them, as the scent attracts the fly.
For growing carrots the same way, see growing carrots in containers
Harvesting container parsnips
Parsnips are ready when the leaves start to yellow and die back in autumn, and they taste sweeter after a frost. The easiest way to harvest a pot is to tip the whole thing out onto a sheet or tarp and pick out the roots, which avoids snapping them.
Compost in a pot can freeze solid in a long cold spell, which makes the roots hard to lift. Harvest container parsnips before a hard freeze sets in, or move the pot against a sheltered wall.
For more detail, see when to harvest parsnips
If your parsnips are small, forked or slow to appear, see why parsnips don't grow
For the whole growing season, see how to grow parsnips in the UK
Common questions
Can you grow parsnips in pots?
Yes, as long as the container is at least 45 cm deep. A deep pot of multi-purpose compost gives the root loose, stone-free soil to grow straight down through.
How deep does a container need to be for parsnips?
At least 45 cm. Parsnips grow one long root, and in a shallow pot it hits the bottom and bends or splits.
Can you grow parsnips in grow bags?
No. Grow bags are far too shallow for parsnip roots. Use a deep tub, tall planter or similar container instead.
How many parsnips can you grow in a pot?
A container around 30 cm across holds three or four parsnips, thinned to one plant every 15 cm.
Sowing, spacing and care based on RHS guidance.