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When to Plant Parsnip in Prowers County, CO

Parsnips are a sweet, nutty root vegetable that develops best flavor after exposure to frost. They require a long growing season but reward patient gardeners.

Prowers County, Colorado is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost is October 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 163 days.

At an elevation of 6,074 feet, Prowers County receives approximately 24.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Parsnip during the growing season.

Prowers County, CO (Zone 6a) Moderate season
163 days
Last Spring Frost April 30
163 growing days
First Fall Frost October 10

Prowers County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Aug 9 – Sep 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Aug 13 – Sep 24
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (17 days to spare)
Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Aug 26 – Oct 7

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 633 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Parsnip needs ~1,840 GDD — county provides 2,608 GDD Excellent fit

Parsnip Planting Timeline โ€” Prowers County, CO

Parsnip Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ May 7
Fall Sowing August 1 Aug 1 โ€“ Aug 15
Harvest July 30 Jul 30 โ€“ Sep 10

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Direct Sow
May Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

100โ€“130 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6a

Growing Season

163 days

Growing Tips for Prowers County

Use only fresh seed as parsnip seed viability declines rapidly. Sow directly in spring in deeply worked soil. Leave roots in the ground through winter for sweetest flavor.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Carrots
  • Celery

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Parsnip in Prowers County, CO?

Prowers County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 30. Plan your Parsnip planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Prowers County, CO?

Prowers County, Colorado is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 30 and first fall frost is October 10.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Prowers County gardeners in Zone 6a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Prowers County, CO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.