Heirloom Parsnip
Harris Model stands as the gold standard parsnip that people envision when they think of this sweet winter root. This heirloom variety produces smooth-skinned, 10-12 inch tapered roots with creamy white flesh and a distinctive sweet, nutty flavor that intensifies after frost. Hardy in zones 3-9, it takes about 130 days to reach maturity, though some sources report harvest times ranging from 95 to 139 days. What makes Harris Model truly special is its ability to overwinter in the ground, providing fresh harvests from late fall through early spring when the garden offers little else.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-9
24in H x ?in W
Biennial
Moderate
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Harris Model delivers everything gardeners love about parsnips in one reliable package. The smooth, refined roots grow 10-12 inches long with shoulders reaching 3.5 inches across, offering substantial harvests from each plant. Its sweet, nutty flavor and fine-grained flesh make it exceptional for roasting, mashing, or even baking into breads and muffins. The variety shines brightest after experiencing frost, when cold temperatures convert starches to sugars and create an even sweeter, more complex flavor. Best of all, these hardy roots can stay in the ground through winter in most climates, giving you fresh vegetables when nothing else is growing.
Harris Model excels in hearty winter cooking, from classic roasted root vegetable medleys to creamy mashed parsnips that rival potatoes. Its sweet, nutty flesh makes excellent "parsnip bread" and adds natural sweetness to muffins and baked goods. The roots can be prepared like carrots - boiled, fried, or roasted - but their unique flavor truly shines when roasted until caramelized. Many gardeners also value these parsnips as nutritious feed for rabbits and other livestock during winter months.
Sow seeds directly in early spring, 3 weeks before the last frost, or in late summer 3-4 weeks before the first autumn frost for a spring harvest. Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in well-tilled, loose soil. Sow 2-3 seeds every 1-2 inches in rows, as germination can be sporadic and takes 10-28 days.
Harvest Harris Model parsnips once the foliage has died back, dried, and bowed over, typically after 130 days but ranging from 95-139 days depending on conditions. For the sweetest flavor, allow plants to experience one or two hard frosts before harvesting. Use a potato fork or garden fork to carefully loosen the soil around the roots, then pull straight up using the dried foliage. Roots can be harvested from autumn through January in most climates, or left in the ground through winter for an early spring harvest once the soil thaws.
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“Harris Model has earned its place as the standard bearer for parsnips, representing what generations of gardeners have come to expect from this essential root vegetable. As an heirloom variety, it carries forward the careful selection work of countless growers who preserved its excellent characteristics of smooth skin, dependable production, and superior flavor. This landrace parsnip embodies the time-tested qualities that made parsnips a staple crop for both human and animal food, valued for their exceptional storage ability and nutritional density during lean winter months.”