Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú

Grow your own  permalink

Parsnips

• Message 1. 

  Posted by borderbabe (U2901124) on Wednesday, 30th March 2011

  i sowed my parsnips in a module tray in the greenhouse but they seem to have been eaten off - is it too late to try again or would the best bet be to sow them on the open on the allotment? the spot I have in mind there had chard on it last year and has a green manure there atm ready to dig in.
  
  Any advise greatfully received - parsnips and me dont seem to get on!

  Link to this forum: Parsnips

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by cufcskim (U14483815) on Wednesday, 30th March 2011

  Sow direct, protect from slugs.

  Link to this forum: Parsnips

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by mikearrowgate (U3396156) on Wednesday, 30th March 2011

  Transplanting not recommended as Parsnips don't like it so plant where you want them. If you really want to start them elsewhere then sow the seed in toilet roll inserts, plant out before the roots come out of the bottom - no jokes please!
  
  On another point as Parsnip seed is only good for one year why do they give you enough seeds that will produce "600/700 plants in average conditions"! Who eats 2 a day, I only eat about 2 a year and that is in soup!

  Link to this forum: Parsnips

  Report message3

• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Gillinger (U8835892) on Thursday, 31st March 2011

  My pack of parsnips says don't plant before April because of canker risk. Best wait until tomorrow!

  Link to this forum: Parsnips

  Report message4

• Message 5

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by ageing_hippie (U6742113) on Thursday, 31st March 2011

  I'm still sowing parsnips, but I only ever sow direct because they grow a deep taproot so quickly. I make conical holes, fill with multipurpose compost and sow a good half dozen seeds in each one because germination can be poor. Then thin the seedlings to one at each station. The roots grow long and unforked.
  
  I haven't heard of late sowing avoiding canker. Seed packets used to recommend February sowing, but I used to find I got zero germination if I tried before the soil had started warming up, and germination takes so long anyway that by the time you decided nothing was happening it was too late to try again.

  Link to this forum: Parsnips

  Report message5

• Message 6

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by CaptainTongo (U14832103) on Tuesday, 5th April 2011

  Transplanting not recommended as Parsnips don't like it so plant where you want them. If you really want to start them elsewhere then sow the seed in toilet roll inserts, plant out before the roots come out of the bottom - no jokes please!
  
  On another point as Parsnip seed is only good for one year why do they give you enough seeds that will produce "600/700 plants in average conditions"! Who eats 2 a day, I only eat about 2 a year and that is in soup!  I bought some Parsnip seeds from B&Q last year and have sown again this year with 100% success rate. (Good value too!)
  I always use the toilet roll-inner method, 3 seeds per roll thinning to 1 when the leaves develop, and transplant into a raised bed with well sifted soil.

  Link to this forum: Parsnips

  Report message6

• Message 7

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Tuesday, 5th April 2011

  
  Hyjacking this thread, (I believe that is the phrase)? I have a row of Parsnips left in over-winter, Am I correct that these will quickly run to seed and be no good for eating ?
  They were left in because I had transplanted them and the roots were convoluted in extreme. Cheers, Tony.

  Link to this forum: Parsnips

  Report message7

• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by pjgolf (U2469936) on Tuesday, 5th April 2011

  Hiya Tony.
  
  Same thing happened to mine. I`m pretty sure they will be no good. I cut into one of mine which had started to grow again and the core in the middle was very thick and tough. There was virtually no edible part left.
  I would start again and pull the other ones, chop em up fine and put them on the compost heap.
  
  Cheers
  
  Peter.

  Link to this forum: Parsnips

  Report message8

• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Tuesday, 5th April 2011

  We had our last parsnip from the patch the other night. It was starting to pump out new leaves and had whiskers growing on the parsnip itself but it wasn't woody and tasted sublime. You can be lucky.

  Link to this forum: Parsnips

  Report message9

• Message 10

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Downley_digger (U14396475) on Tuesday, 5th April 2011

  I always plant them in April. A good tip from Gardeners' Question Time is to pre-germinate parsnip seed on damp kitchen roll in a warm, dark place, making sure it doesn't dry out, and then just plant out the germinated seeds. Germination takes about 5-7 days, and ensures that only fertile seeds are sown.

  Link to this forum: Parsnips

  Report message10

Back to top