Muggins here needs your help please

[Cue the Toms]

I got sucked into a challenge today

I'm new to all this as you know and some big time charlie has laid down the gauntlet to which I have bit...

The local champion veg grower who apparently wins our towns growing gold medal every year has invited me to take him on, and guess what????? I have accepted his challenge

I now HAVE to do my utmost to beat him. Parsnips would be the main prize to knock him down a peg or two

I know that I have a chance to win this with your help... I will do my best without your help but it would be appreciated if you can give me your best tips... If you don't want to broadcast to all and sundry then PM me please.. Come on everyone we can do this!

Chris

[veggiechicken]

I'm not setting you up here, Chris, but are Parsnips the prize, or do you want to beat him with those?
Cos if so you may be a bit late in the year to start...........

[Cue the Toms]

It's for next year... He popped by and admitted that I had performed miracles in less than a month but I obviously had nothing to show this year... As it appeared that I had some idea of what I'm doing, would I be interested in trying to challenge his 4 year unbeaten record as champion parsnip grower! Of couse I said yes I'll give ya a run for ya money..... Yes I'm a nutter but hey ho, what the hell.... I will give it my best shot!

[veggiechicken]

Calling all expert P...nip growers to the cause then.
Apologies, one and all for mentioning the dreaded P word

[Cue the Toms]

My champion parsnip will be underway around the end of Feb or the beginning of March.. I'm watching the weather forecast for then already

[lottie dolly]

i do believe in order for the roots NOT to look like madusa you will need a clear space free from any stones,if it were me,dig a deep wide space for every snip,sift the soil then replace with some sifted compost,if done before the winter sets in,it will have time to settle before your introduce the seed,not forgetting to mark where they are,as you gather from the many threads on here,the choice is yours what method you use to get them growing,an expert will be along soon,good luck,and keep us posted,

[zazen999]

Is it length you are after? You will need drainpipes and sand if so.

[lottie dolly]

how wide a pipe is best,

[Cue the Toms]

Not sure about length or quality TBH.. I will have a go at both. I have looked at how to grow the long ones but I don't think that is what the competition is about. I will find out.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I don't grow snips but know a man who does and he wins shows and he has just e-mailed his advice.

First forget growing in the ground its an absolute no no.

Good seed he uses Gladiator.

He then sets plastic soil pipe into 45 gallon drums filled with sand and grows in these. The exact mix of compost in the pipes will vary from man to man and they guard the secrets of their mix jealously.

He suggests that the mix used by John Trim is a very good place to start so google John Trim growing championship parsnips he has written a good article on the subject.

Colin

[Cue the Toms]

I don't grow snips but know a man who does and he wins shows and he has just e-mailed his advice.

First forget growing in the ground its an absolute no no.

Good seed he uses Gladiator.

He then sets plastic soil pipe into 45 gallon drums filled with sand and grows in these. The exact mix of compost in the pipes will vary from man to man and they guard the secrets of their mix jealously.

He suggests that the mix used by John Trim is a very good place to start so google John Trim growing championship parsnips he has written a good article on the subject.

Colin

I was thinking along these lines, genuinely.... , thank you for the advice.

Chris

[Aberdeenplotter]

I grow my show parsnips in an 8ft x 4 ft bed made from sleepers and which is 5ft deep and filled with sharp sand. It's a whole lot of sand !! I also use plastic barrels with the top and bottom cut off and seated on breeze blocks. Once again filled with sharp sand. I core out a hole using a 3" drain pipe and then fill the hole with compost. It's no secret. Most members of the National Vegetable Society are prepared to share their recipes. We want to encourage folks to have a go and we know you still have to do the growing. Mine is on my other computer but I will put it up on here. Please remind me if I forget. It's not dis-similar to John Trim's. I just don't use vermic. I have tried growing in pipes but really difficult to keep the compost hydrated all the way down the pipe. You won't go far wrong with Gladiator. I've grown that variety this year as well as a variety named Polar. Not pulled any yet. My first show they will see daylight for is almost a month away and I will also hopefully be taking some to the National Vegetable Society National Championships at Malvern at the Malvern Show at the end of September.

[veggiechicken]

Are you coming down to the Malvern Show AP?

[Aberdeenplotter]

yups. The NVS member's website has its own forum and those who use the forum will have their own wee private infantile competition outwith the main show . Had our hotel booked for more than a year

[veggiechicken]

I met VVG there at the Spring Show! I wonder whether she's going again? We could have a rendez-vous