Parsnips in flower buckets

[solway cropper]

Womble, the main reason I grow them in flower buckets is that I can start them off in the greenhouse quite early and then move them outside. I just seem to get better germination that way and they suffer no disturbance from transplanting. I can also bring them back in when hard frosts are forecast and get fresh parsnips when the ground is set like concrete!!

Also, when you've got 2 herniated lumbar discs and knackered hips the idea of digging bucket-size holes in the ground brings tears to the eyes.

[chris]

Are the buckets the square ones that the bunches of flowers are resting in? I saw some of them empty in my local Asda, but wasn't sure if they were the correct ones? Who do you ask for them, just any old store bod?

[Gemmalaveen]

Womble, the main reason I grow them in flower buckets is that I can start them off in the greenhouse quite early and then move them outside.

I am inspired and plan to have a go at this next year as the soil on my plot is very rocky and not ideal for parsnips. How early is early? When did you start them off in the greenhouse?

[Brengirl]

Needed a p......p for dinner so grasped the nettle and emptied one of the pots. Wow - what a buzz I got. I am delighted with my very own homegrown.



there is also a few split root ones but am not going to show them off

[Bren In Pots]

They look good Brengirl think I'll have a little dig around the tops of mine we could do with some to go with tomorrows roast.

[solway cropper]

Good on you Brengirl. At this rate we'll be starting a parsnips in buckets sub-forum

You could always use the split root ones in soup.

Gemma, I would normally start mine off in the greenhouse in March but this year was so cold I waited till the first week in April and staggered the sowings over the following 3 or 4 weeks.