Petroselinum crispum var. tuberosum

RHS Plant Profile
Hamburg parsley

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Hamburg parsley visionspictures.com
Hamburg parsley visionspictures.com
Hamburg parsley visionspictures.com

Other common names

parsnip-rooted parsley, turnip-rooted parsley

Synonyms

Petroselinum crispum Radicosum Group
Petroselinum crispum var. tuberosum 'Hamburg'
Petroselinum tuberosum

Annual Biennial Herbs - Culinary
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Introduced to England in the 18th century, this was popular for about 100 years and is still commonly eaten in Germany. The leaves are similar to that of parsley, in appearance and taste, and can be used in the same way but the difference to most parsleys in that the edible roots resemble parsnips and grow up to about 15cm long. The roots are described as tasting like a cross between parsnips and parsley or parsnips and celery - sweetest and tastiest if cooked. The roots are frost resistant and ready to harvest in late Autumn /early Winter and unusually the largest roots taste the best. This is a biennial, grown as an annual - if you let it flower the leaves will be inedible and the plant will then die.

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Apiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Petroselinum are aromatic biennials with broad, pinnate to 3-pinnate leaves and compound umbels of small white or pale green flowers
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist, but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. As this is a root crop seedlings will need to be thinned to about 20cm apart. Keep well watered all summer as this is when the roots put on the most growth. Harvest roots through autum and early winter. This is a biennial plant but is normally grown as an annual. See parsley cultivation for further advice.

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants

Pruning

Remove flowers unless wanted for seed

Pests

May be susceptible to carrot fly, aphids, celery leaf miner and slugs.

Diseases

May be susceptible to a leaf spot and a virus