When to Sow Parsnips in Vermont
Sow parsnip seed directly in the ground 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost.
Gardening in Vermont
Everything we have worked out for Vermont: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Burlington, the last spring freeze runs April 30 to May 10 and the first fall freeze runs October 3 to October 13, USDA zones 3b-5b, 2,644 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 30.4 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Vermont: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
Will Parsnips Sweeten in Vermont?
Yes, Vermont’s winters deliver the sustained cold exposure parsnips need to turn stored starch into sugar.
Will Vermont Soil Hold an Asparagus Bed for Fifteen Years?
The Tunbridge series, Vermont’s official state soil, is well drained by USDA’s own description, and “well drained” is the one soil requirement Utah State…
When to Plant Asparagus Crowns in Vermont
Vermont gardeners can put asparagus crowns in the ground around late April into mid-May, timed to the region’s last spring frost window.
When Does the Heating Season Start in Vermont?
In Vermont, the heating season opens in September, the first month when Burlington’s normal mean temperature slips below the 65°F line that…
Growing Sweet Corn in Vermont: Will It Ripen?
Yes, sweet corn can ripen in Vermont, but not on the calendar most gardeners assume.
Growing Asparagus in Vermont: Fifteen Years in One Spot
Vermont’s official soil, the Tunbridge series, drains well by nature, which lines up neatly with the one rule asparagus cares about.
When to Sow Pumpkins in Vermont
In Vermont, pumpkin seed goes into the ground once the soil itself reads 65 F, which lands two to three weeks past the last spring frost window of April…
Will Pumpkins Ripen Before Frost in Vermont?
Yes, if the vine’s flowers open before the second half of August. Vermont’s first fall frost lands between October 3 and October 13, and a pumpkin needs…
Growing Parsnips in Vermont: Will They Sweeten?
Vermont gardeners get a clear yes on both counts: the state’s frosty winters supply exactly the exposure parsnips need to turn their starch to sugar, and…