Drainpipe parsnips.

[Frana]

Have recently picked up some parsnip seeds and oddly enough, also acquired a length of drainpipe.

Heard or saw somewhere that the two can go together so have cut the pipe into 12 inch lengths and am going to experiment with a few seeds to see how the parsnips grow in a pipe filled with compost.

Anyone done this before? If so, are there any benefits to this and more so does it work? Even more so, is there any point?!

[snohare]

I tried this last year, but not in twelve inch lengths ! The idea is that exhibition growers can have parsnips that are a metre or more in length, and can remove them from the drainpipe easily without breaking the all important tiny thin root end that extends so long and counts towards a winning size. Plus of course by filling the pipe with exactly the right sort of compost you can also ensure the root gets the right nutrients at the correct stage etc, which is more what I was interested in.
Didn't work with me, I didn't have compost just sieved soil, and the seeds refused to germinate; I think the soil capped. (Where the soil particles cake together on top after watering, hindering seed growth.)
If you look at the showcase section of the forum, I'd guess they will have more detailed info.