Cultivation
Parsnips are considered winter vegetables, since low soil temperatures are necessary to develop their flavor. They are a favorite with gardeners in areas with short growing seasons. Sandy, loamy soil is preferred; silty, clayey, and rocky soils are unsuitable, as they produce short, forked roots.
Seeds can be planted in early spring, as soon as the ground can be worked. Harvesting can begin in late fall after the first frost, and continue through winter until the ground freezes over. More than almost any other vegetable seed, parsnip seed significantly deteriorates in viability if stored for long, so it is advisable to use fresh seed each year.
In Roman times, parsnips were believed to be an aphrodisiac.
In the United States, this plant was introduced by British colonists as a root vegetable. In the mid-19th century, it was replaced by the potato and consequently escaped from cultivation. New cultivars continued to be developed and disseminated, including the 'Student' cultivar, developed by James Buckman.
Parsnip is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including its namesake, the parsnip swallowtail and also the common swift, garden dart, and ghost moth.
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