Parsnips

judy's picture
judy Posted at 18:37 on Thu, 03/07/2008
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Intro
Intro picture: 
Parsnips
Intro: 

These hardy winter vegetables have sweetly flavoured roots that can grow to huge sizes depending on the variety

Location and soil
Type of soil: 

A rich well-broken soil completely cleared of stones

Location: 

They are not too fussy, prefering an open sunny site but able to tolerate light shade

Sowing seeds
Sowing seeds: 

It is best to sow parsnip seeds in late winter or early spring - but you can still get a decent crop if you sow in early summer.

Sow in a 2cm deep drill and space the seeds to about 5cm apart. Make the rows at least 35cm apart.

Choose a calm, windless day to sow as the seeds are very light and feathery and blow away easily.

Looking after the crop
General care: 

Parsnips need to be well weeded but care must be taken not to damage the crown of the root as this can lead to canker.

Over-watering produces leaves rather than roots.

Harvesting the crop
Harvesting: 

Start to harvest parsnips about four months after sowing - in autumn and through the winter.

Lift with a fork. Any roots remaining after the autumn can safely be left to overwinter in the ground. Frost improves the flavour.

Varieties
Variety description: 

Avonresister

Variety description: 

Cobham Marrow

Variety description: 

Tender and True

Pests
Pest or disease: 

Carrot root fly

Pest or disease: 

Canker

parsnips

eve Posted at 10:02 on Sun, 10/05/2008

had very good success this year by starting seeds of in toilet roll inners planted whole thing in ground no root disturbance ,stops carrot fly and other pests

parsnips

gigglyanna Posted at 16:07 on Wed, 12/03/2008

what a good idea - I planted parsnip seeds this year but got a patch full of tiny weeds with not a parsnip in sight! I asked one of the seasoned full timers at my plot but he couldn't spot a single seedling .... Will try the loo roll method this time!

hoooray!!

fordadie Posted at 23:59 on Mon, 03/30/2009

Parsnips are by far my fav veg!!!!! im so excited at the thought of growing great parsnips in this way that im going to go through my recycling bin to get all my finished loo rolls right now!!

Thanks for a fab tip!!!!!

parsnips

Johno Posted at 15:45 on Mon, 02/08/2010

I garden on very stony ground so to get good shaped roots I make conical holes by putting an iron bar into the ground about a foot deep moving it in a circular motion then filling the hole with sieved compost or old grow-bag compost and sowing on top of this then covering the seed with soil so doesnt dry out too much in warm weather. Weeds dont often grow over area at top of hole where the seed has been sown and roots usually fill the shape of the hole made.

parsnips

craggy Posted at 19:01 on Sun, 02/14/2010

the hardest veg to get going,then their easy.last year a complete blow out,from my own saved fresh seed.this year i'm putting down glass to bring the temperature up,and hoping for better results from this enigmatic vegetable.regards

Parsnips

Zena Posted at 13:57 on Tue, 03/29/2011

I've heard they shouldn't be gown on freshly manured ground, is this so?

Zena