Why Does My Parsnip Look Sickly?

Are there any sunken, elliptical, gray lesions across the root, the outer layer of root ruptures and develops dark, elongated lesions?

Are the seedlings dying and the stems are girdled or rotted at soil line?

Do the leaves have pale areas on upper surfaces and "downy" patches underneath?

Are there any small brown necrotic lesions on leaves with pale green halos, lesions may coalesce to form large necrotic patches?

Are the leaves covered with white powdery growth?

Are the leaves curled and yellow?

Does the foliage have singular, or closely grouped circular to irregularly shaped holes?

Are the seedlings clipped off at the soil line?

Cavity spot is a fungal disease that attacks parsnip. Fungi can persist in soil for several years and disease outbreaks are associated with wet soils. Avoid planting in fields/areas known to previously had cavity spot. Do not over-fertilize plants. The application of copper-based fungicide should provide adequate control.

If your seedlings are falling over and the stems are girdled or rotted at the soil line, the most likely cause is a damping-off disease. Damping-off is caused by a soil fungus Rhizoctonia solani. Remove and destroy all infected plants. To prevent damping-off let the soil surface dry between waterings, thin seedlings to avoid overcrowding and do not add nitrogen fertilizers until plants have developed leaves.

Pale areas on upper surfaces of the leaves and "downy" patches underneath are caused by Downy mildew. This fungus spreads quickly during cool, wet nights and warm, humid days. Leaves will wilt and die. Remove and destroy all affected plant parts and encourage good air circulation around plants by thining them. Water plants early in the morning to make sure they dry before nightfall.

Itersonilia canker is a fungal disease that typically emerges late in the growing season and is promoted by cool, wet weather conditions. The disease can be reduced by keeping the shoulder of parsnip roots covered with soil throughout the growing season. Inoculum can be reduced by rotating crops, planting in well-draining soils, removing weeds, and plowing crop debris into the soil after harvest.

White, powdery patches on the leaves are caused by a fungal disease Powdery mildew. Powdery mildew usually appears in damp places. Encourage good air circulation around the affected plants by thining them and any surrounding plants. Water plants from bellow to keep foliage dry. Any affected leaves should be cut off and removed. Any commercial fungicidal spray will protect your plant from further infections.

Distorted, curled leaves are caused by aphids. These tiny insects cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted, and later leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Beet armyworms cause this type of damage to the leaves. Handpick or spray actively feeding caterpillars with BTK in the evening.

If the seedlings of your plants are cut off at the soil level, most likely cause are cutworms. These caterpillars can be 1-2 inches long, brown, or gray. They feed at night by cutting off young plants and sometimes eating them whole. During the day, they are hidden below the soil surface. Control them by introducing parasitic nematodes to the ground. Using BTK spray on the ground will also control their numbers.

If there are tunnels on the taproot filled with a rust-colored mush in the culprits are Carrot rust flies. Install row covers early in the season before adult fly lays eggs on plants. Harvest parsnips in blocks, and do not leave any parsnips in the ground during winter to reduce overwintering sites.