How to grow Hamburg Parsley in Australia
Grow this parsnip-like root in deep, loose, stone-free soil in full sun to light shade. Sow seed direct as it dislikes transplanting, and thin seedlings to about 15cm so the roots can swell.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 4 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 15 cm
- Time to harvest: 120 days
- Time to germinate: 14 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | March to June | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to June | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | March to July | Longer cool season than SEQ. Sow Hamburg parsley direct Mar to Jul for roots through winter and spring. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | February to July | Extended cool-season window. Reliable root crop in Melbourne. |
| Adelaide & SA | February to July | Sow Feb to Jul direct with fresh seed; roots size up through the cool season and hold in the ground over winter. |
| Perth & WA | March to July | Sow Mar to Jul direct with fresh seed. Roots grow through the mild winter and are dug in spring. |
| Tasmania | September to November | Sow Sep to Nov. Dual purpose root and leaf through autumn and winter. |
| Canberra & ACT | September to November | Sow Sep to Nov; long season like parsnip. Roots stand through winter and sweeten with frost. |
| North Queensland | April to July | Marginal. Sow Apr to Jul for the coolest months. Roots stay small without a long cool season, as with parsnip. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not suited. Needs a long cool season to swell its root, which Darwin never gets. Grow leaf parsley instead. |
Varieties
- Hamburg Half Long
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Lift the roots once they reach finger thickness or more. Loosen with a fork and pull by the leafy top, and the flavour sweetens after cool weather.
Storage
Cool dark place for weeks. Fridge wrapped for 2 to 3 weeks.