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Parsnips

Last updated on April 11, 2024

Parnsips

Growing Parsnips

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Varieties

Gladiator, Arrow, Javelin, Albion.

See your seed dealer for the most recent variety recommendations.

 

Seed treatment

For control of damping off and seedling blight caused by Pythium spp., Fusarium spp. and Rhizoctonia spp., use seed treated with Apron MAXX RTA.

 

Seeding and spacing

Sow seed as early in the spring as possible at a rate of 3.25 to 5.5 kg/ha (1.3 to 2.2 kg/acre), to a depth of 6 to 19 mm. Space plants within the row 5 to 10 cm apart and space rows at least 45 cm apart.

 

Soil

Deep, loose fertile soils that have good water-holding capacity and a pH of 6.0 or above are necessary for the development of long, straight roots. Well-drained sandy loams, peat and mucks are ideal for parsnip production.

 

Fertilizer

A soil test is necessary to determine phosphate and potash requirements. Use the Vegetable Production Guide: Nutrient Management (PDF) for recommendations based on soil test results. Broadcast and disc at time of planting 60 kg/ha (24 kg/acre) nitrogen and the required phosphate and potash.

Side-dress with 35 kg/ha (14 kg/acre) of nitrogen about 6 weeks after seeding.

 

 

Parsnip weed management

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Pre-emergence

Pre-emergence: herbicide application rates
Product Rate PHI* Comments

Lorox L

(linuron)

Group 7
 Loam or clay soils with low organic matter:
1.3 to 1.9 L/ha
(520 to 760 mL/acre)

Muck or clay soils with med. organic matter:
1.9 to 2.5 L/ha
(0.76 to 1.0 L/acre)		 60
  • Closed mixing/loading systems are required.
  • Plant seeds at least 1.3 cm deep.
  • May be applied once per year as a pre-emergent application or in combination with a post-emergence application of Lorox L.
  • If applying once as a pre-emergent application in the year, do not apply more than 2.5 L/ha (1.0 L/ac) per year.
  • Do not apply more than 1.25 L/ha (0.5 L/ac) if following with a post-emergence application of Lorox L. Check label for pre-emergence plus post-emergence directions.
  • Do not use on sandy or coarse-textured soils low in organic matter.
  • Rain or irrigation is needed for good control.
  • Apply using a closed cab.
  • Limit the amount of product handled per day to 77 kg a.i. per person when mixing, loading and applying.
  • Do not re-enter treated area for scouting for 9 days and for all other tasks for 2 days.

Dual II Magnum

(S - metolachlor)

Group 15
Mineral soils:
1.2 to 1.5 L/ ha
(500 mL to 600 mL/ acre)
 
Muck soils (>20% OM):
1.5 to 1.75 L/ ha
(600 to 708 mL/ acre)
 
Apply in 150 to 300 L/ha (60 to 120 L/acre) of water at 200 to 300 kPa
 60
  • Apply after planting prior to emergence of crop and weeds.
  • For mineral soils, controls nightshade, foxtail and barnyard grass and suppresses redroot pigweed.
  • For muck soils, suppression only of listed weeds.
  • On muck soils, irrigate immediately after appplying with 0.5 inches of water.
  • Use in soils with high organic matter may result in reduced efficacy.
  • Make only one application per year.
  • Do not follow with a post-emergent spray of Dual II Magnum later in the season (see Post-emergence section of this table).
  • Pre-emerge treatment sometimes gives better control of nightshade than post-emerge treatment.
  • Do not apply in areas where water is likely to pool.
  • May cause significant injury to carrots resuting in stand loss, delayed maturity and reduced yields.
  • Rain is required within 10 days of application, or a shallow cultivation.
  • Do not apply to soils with less than 1% organic matter.
  • Do not re-enter for 12 hours.

*PHI = Pre-harvest interval
BUFFERS – Refer to product label for buffer requirements, and consult the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Regulations and Safety (PDF).
PESTICIDE GROUP DETAILS – see the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Toxicity Table (PDF).

 

Post-emergence

Post-emergence: herbicide application rates
Product Rate PHI* Comments

Select

(clethodim)
 
Group 1

0.19 to 0.38 L/ha (75 to 155 mL/acre)

Apply in 110 L/ha (45 L/acre) of water at 275 kPa

 30
  • Apply post-emergence of weeds and crop.
  • Controls annual grasses and suppresses quackgrass at the 2 to 6 leaf stage.
  • Use only with the adjuvant Amigo at 0.5 to 1.0% v/v.
  • Apply early, prior to tillering.
  • Repeat using a 14 day interval.
  • Maximum of 2 applications per year.
  • Do not apply more than 0.38 L/ha (155 mL/acre) per crop season.
  • Allow 4 days after treatment before applying any other chemical not listed on the label.
  • Do not enter treated area for 12 hours.

Centurion

(clethodim)
 
Group 1

0.19 to 0.38 L/ha (75 to 155 mL/acre)

Apply in 110 L/ha (45 L/acre) of water at 275 kPa

 30
  • Apply post-emergence of weeds and crop.
  • Controls annual grasses and suppresses quackgrass at the 2 to 6 leaf stage.
  • Use only with the adjuvant Amigo at 0.5 to 1.0% v/v.
  • Apply early, prior to tillering.
  • Repeat using a 14 day interval.
  • Maximum of 2 applications per year.
  • Do not apply more than 0.38 L/ha (155 mL/acre) per crop season.
  • Allow 4 days after treatment before applying any other chemical not listed on the label.
  • Do not enter treated area for 12 hours.

Lorox L

(linuron)

Group 7
 1.9 to 2.5 L/ha
(0.7 to 1.0 L/acre)

Apply in 220 to 440 L/ha (90 to 175 L/acre) of water at 275 kPa 		60
  • Closed mixing/loading systems are required.
  • For parsnips treated with Lorox L pre-emergence, follow once with a post-emergence application, USING THE LOW RATE, provided treatments are at least two weeks apart (Check label for pre-emergence plus post-emergence use directions).
  • If applying only once as a post-emergence application in the year, do not apply more than 2.5 L/ha (1.0 L/ac) per year.
  • Apply once when crop has 2 or more fully developed leaves.
  • On muck soils, plants must be more than 8 cm tall when spraying.
  • Apply before annual grasses are 5 cm tall and before broadleaved weeds reach 15 cm.
  • Will not control atrazine resistant weeds.
  • Do not tank mix with herbicide oil or surfactants.
  • Do not use on sandy soils with less than 2% organic matter.
  • Do not replant to other crops within 4 months of last application.
  • Apply using a closed cab.
  • Limit the amount of product handled per day to 77 kg a.i. per person when mixing, loading and applying.
  • Do not re-enter treated area for scouting for 9 days and for all other tasks for 2 days.

Aim EC

(carfentrazone-ethyl)
Group 14
 37 to 117 mL/ha
(15 to 47 mL/acre)

Apply in 100 L/ha (40 L/acre) of water		 1
  • Controls annual weeds.
  • Must be applied using hooded sprayers to weeds between the rows of the emerged crop.
  •  Use an adjuvant such as Agral 90 or Agral-Surf at 0.25% v/v (0.25 L/100 L of spray solution) or Merge at 1% v/v (1 L/100 L of spray solution).
  • Precaution:  crop injury will occur when spray drift is allowed to come in contact with green stem tissue or leaves.
  • Apply only once per growing season.

Dual II Magnum

(S - metolachlor)

Group 15
Mineral soils:
1.2 to 1.5 L/ ha
(500 mL to 600 mL/ acre)
 
Apply in 150 to 300 L/ha (60 to 120 L/acre) of water at 200 to 300 kPa
 60
  • Apply when the crop is at the 3 to 5 leaf stage and to weeds prior to the 2-leaf stage.
  • Controls nightshade, foxtail and barnyard grass.
  • Make only one application per year.
  • Do not follow with a post-emergent spray of Dual II Magnum later in the season (see Post-emergence section of this table).
  • Pre-emergent treatments sometimes gives better control of nightshade than post-emergent treatments.
  • Do not apply in areas where water is likely to pool.
  • May cause significant injury to carrots resulting in stand loss, delayed maturity and reduced yields.
  • Rain is required within 10 days of application, or a shallow cultivation.
  • Do not apply to soils with less than 1% or more than 10% organic matter.
  • Do not re-enter for 12 hours.

*PHI = Pre-harvest interval
BUFFERS – Refer to product label for buffer requirements, and consult the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Regulations and Safety (PDF).
PESTICIDE GROUP DETAILS – see the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Toxicity Table (PDF).

 

Parsnip insect management

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Carrot rust fly (carrot maggot)

This small, shiny, black fly with yellowish legs and yellow-brown head, lays eggs in soil near plants. Yellowish-white, legless maggots feed on roots of carrots, parsnips and celery, leaving rust-coloured tunnels. Young plants may be killed. Older plants may be stunted and the roots deformed.

Note:  there  is currently nothing registered in Canada for carrot rust fly.

 

Parsnip disease management

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Canker

At least two fungi cause canker on parsnip: Itersonilia and Phoma.These diseases are very common in wet seasons, causing a leaf spot on the foliage and a rusty brown to black decay of the roots. Root infection usually begins at the crown or at points where carrot rust fly larvae have wounded the root.

Control

  • Gladiator is the most resistant variety recommended in B.C. In Ontario, Andover is said to be resistant to both Itersonilia and Phoma canker.
  • Rotate crops. Do not replant parsnips for at least one year after a canker-infected crop has been grown.
  • The leaf spot phase may be quite destructive to the foliage under wet conditions. A fungicide spray program such as that used for foliar blights of carrots will reduce damage. See table below for instructions.
  • The leaf spot phase may be an important source of inoculum for the exposed shoulders of the roots under conditions of frequent rainfall or irrigation. Hilling the shoulders with soil will reduce the number of infections.
  • Carrot rust fly wounds may be followed by canker infection. These infections can be prevented by closer attention to rust fly control.
Chemical control of canker
Product Rate PHI* Comments

Bravo ZN

(chlorothalonil)

Group M5		 2.8 L/ha (1.1 L/acre) 7
  • Repeat using 7 to 10 day spray intervals beginning in mid-August.
  • Do not apply more than 7 times per year.
  • A closed transfer system must be used when mixing and loading Bravo ZN.
  • When using Bravo ZNC, mixers and loaders cannot handle more than 680 L of product per day.
  • For PPE requirements while mixing and handling Bravo products, check the labels.  
  • Do not re-enter treated area for 21 days for hand harvesting; 5 days for scouting and 12 hours for all other activities..

Bravo ZNC

(chlorothalonil)

Group M5

Echo 720

(chlorothalonil)

Group M5		 1.9 kg/ha (0.60.8 kg/ac) 7
  • Repeat using 7 to 10 day spray intervals beginning in mid-August.
  • Do not apply more than 7 times per year.
  • If handling more than 340 kg a.i. in one day, mixers and loaders must use a closed system.
  • Do not re-enter treated area for 21 days for hand harvesting; 5 days for scouting and 12 hours for all other activities..

*PHI = Pre-harvest interval
BUFFERS – Refer to product label for buffer requirements, and consult the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Regulations and Safety (PDF).
PESTICIDE GROUP DETAILS – see the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Toxicity Table (PDF).