Hamburg Parsley

Did you know….

Originally Hamburg parsley came from Germany. In the 16th century it was used in soups and medicine. It has also been a popular green and root vegetable in Austria, Hungary, Poland, Holland and Russia for centuries. 

Hamburg rooted parsley looks similar to Italian parsley. Its edible greens are used the same as both Italian parsley and curled parsley are used. However, Hamburg parsley root has edible tubers that look kind of like a cross between a parsnip and a carrot. The flavor and texture is somewhere between the two as well. The tubers have a rough white-beige skin and are whiter beneath the skin. They grow approximately 6 inches long and 2 inches wide, though the Hamburg half long varieties are shorter and stubbier.

How to use Hamburg Parsley

Hamburg rooted parsley can be eaten raw, like a carrot, but it is usually sliced with the skin on and cooked in stews or soups. It contains Vitamin C, iron and sodium. In Europe, the greens are usually harvested and used as needed throughout the spring, summer and fall. The leaves will only keep fresh for a couple days, so only take what is needed. While the tubers take much longer to mature, they are usually harvested as needed in fall or winter. It can also be planted in fall for spring and early summer harvests.

What does Hamburg parsley taste like?

This vegetable is quite rare and nearly forgotten, in the same way as parsnips. Its pulp is white and firm, while the flavor is reminiscent of a mix between celery root, carrots, and parsnips. The leaves are used like normal parsley, though the flavor is much stronger.

Growing Hamburg Rooted Parsley

Growing parsley is simple. Sow seeds directly in the garden in early spring. Plant them ¼ inch deep, 6” apart in full sun or partial shade.  They are slow to germinate at about 3-5 weeks before they sprout, and it then takes at least 90 days until root maturity. This parsley variety is often planted alongside radishes and lettuce. Like all parsley plants, it is a host plant for swallowtail butterflies.

Hamburg root parsley is actually a biennial, but it is usually grown as an annual. It requires consistently moist soil to develop properly and for better taste and texture. In heavy clay soil or dry soil, parsley roots may be prone to forking into two smaller tubers. The half long varieties are said to tolerate poor soil better.

This parsley variety is often planted alongside radishes and lettuce. Like all parsley plants, it is a host plant for swallowtail butterflies.

Medicinal uses

Parsley has been cultivated and used for centuries. It is used as a flavoring in soups and salads, as a garnish, and some varieties, as a vegetable. ‘Hamburg Rooted’ parsley predates the 1600s and is used differently than most other parsley plants. Also known as Hamburg (or Hamburgh) Turnip or Parsnip, and Turnip-Rooted Parsley.
Herbalists have used it as a breath freshener, digestive aid, and in tea to treat high blood pressure and rheumatism. Because it is high in vitamins A and C, it has also been used as a quinine substitute to treat malaria.