Parsnip roots may be dug in late fall, and topped and stored at 32o to 40o F in a root cellar or in an outdoor pit. They may also be left in the ground through winter. Parsnips will tolerate alternate freezing and thawing in soil, but will be damaged if frozen after harvest. A heavy mulch over the parsnips will delay freezing of the soil; mulch can be pulled aside, and parsnips can be harvested late into the winter