Crop type: Parsnips
Pastinaca sativa ‘Viper’
Common name: Parsnip ‘Viper’
Crop slug: parsnips
This Allotment Pro editorial draft summarises the cited RHS cultivar profile and its linked crop guidance. Check the sources and adjust cultivation decisions for local conditions.RHS cultivar profile
1 - Overview
‘Viper’ is an AGM F1 hybrid parsnip producing long, notably uniform roots. When well grown it can reach a huge size, making it particularly suitable for exhibition as well as providing substantial kitchen roots. Its scale depends on uninterrupted growth in deep stone-free ground, adequate spacing and reliably even moisture.
Choose the strongest seedlings and give them a full season. Root shape is likely to be more useful than sheer weight for ordinary kitchen harvests, so avoid fresh manure and compaction.
2 - Size
- Ultimate foliage height
- 0.1–0.5 metre
- Ultimate spread
- 0.1–0.5 metre
- Time to maturity
- one full growing season
- Root form
- exceptionally large, long and uniform when well grown
Thin to one seedling every 15cm in rows 30cm apart. For exhibition specimens, careful soil preparation is more dependable than excessively wide spacing or heavy feeding.
3 - Growing conditions
- Suitable soils
- Deep, light, stone-free loam or sand; deeply loosened heavier soil
- Moisture
- Moist but well drained
- Preferred pH
- Acid to neutral
Remove stones and compacted layers throughout the intended root depth. Add well-rotted organic matter during the previous season rather than fresh manure before sowing. Maintain even moisture so the expanding roots do not split after drought.
4 - Position and hardiness
- Light
- Full sun or partial shade
- Aspect
- East-, south- or west-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- Hardiness
- Hardy for winter ground storage
Mature roots can remain in the ground into winter and become sweeter after frost. Mark the row once foliage begins to die back and insulate part of it where deeply frozen ground could delay lifting.
5 - Colour and seasonal interest
‘Viper’ develops imposing, very long pale cream to white roots with a broad crown and a smooth, uniform taper. Large green divided leaves rise above the crown during its vigorous summer growth, then disappear in winter.
6 - Botanical details
- Family
- Apiaceae
- Native to Great Britain and Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Name status
- Accepted
Genus
Pastinaca comprises biennial members of the carrot family. A cultivated parsnip builds its edible storage root in the first growing season and, if retained for a second, sends up stems bearing flower umbels.
Safety
Parsnip foliage sap can cause skin to become sensitive to sunlight. Wear gloves and cover arms when working among the leaves in bright weather. The cultivated root is edible.
7 - How to grow
Cultivation
Sow fresh seed directly from March to early May once soil approaches 12°C. Make drills 1cm deep and sow three seeds at 15cm stations, keeping rows 30cm apart. Allow 14–30 days for germination and thin every station to one strong plant without disturbing its root.
Hand-weed, water during prolonged dry weather and protect from carrot fly using fine mesh. Let specimens complete their long season before lifting carefully with a fork, ideally after frost, or leave sound roots in the ground for use through winter.
Propagation
Propagate from fresh seed by direct sowing. Transplanting risks damage to the developing exhibition root.
Suggested locations
- Exhibition vegetable plot
- Deep prepared trench or raised bed
- Cottage or informal garden
- Wildlife garden
- Very deep container
Pruning
No pruning is needed. Trim the foliage after harvest while preserving the crown during exhibition preparation or storage.
Pests
May be susceptible to carrot fly. Use fine insect mesh from sowing and rotate the crop.
Diseases
Parsnip canker can enter damaged tissue. Maintain drainage, rotation and careful lifting, especially where roots are grown to a very large size.