Growing really good parsnips

[Aberdeenplotter]

I find that parsnips grow really well in my allotments where the ground is quite heavy and sticky but does dry out in the summer months. If you don't have the same level of success maybe try using the following mix which is popular with those growing for exhibition. It is really just a good quality potting compost. Just bore some holes 3-4" in diamater with a pinch bar or similar, fill with compost (firmed with a stick to prevent air pockets) sow 3 - 4 seeds per station and thin down to one later.

16 ltrs peat
16 ltrs sand
16 ltrs loam(or just sterilised riddled top soil)
7 ozs Chempak potting base
4ozs lime

[jacob]

thin down to one later.

And there we have my problem. I'm just not ruthless enough...

[VirginVegGrower]

Maybe why I can't get them germinating in a sandy free draining soil then AP?!

[Aberdeenplotter]

Parsnips take quite a long time to germinate which is why some folks pre chit the seed before planting(I don't). I simply sow in stations about 4" apart and I sow radish seed between the stations. That lets me see where the parsnips should be so I don't chop them off with the hoe or haul them out when hand weeding.

If sowing in sandy soil, be sure not to let them dry out completely or you will have to sow again.

Never sow old parsnip seed. It rarely germinates.

[Aberdeenplotter]

And there we have my problem. I'm just not ruthless enough...

Don't think of it as ruthless jacob. You could sow 1 seed per station but if it doesn't germinate, you have a gap. Sowing more than one seed provides better odds of having no gaps. You could always not thin your parsnips but that way, there is more than a fair chance of the roots winding around one another and producing unuseable veg.

[VirginVegGrower]

I don't hoe them off or sow old seed but I might be guilty of not giving enough liquid

[salome2001]

I germinate in loo rolls so I only plant out viable seedlings. I do have the heavy clay soil you mention and just pulled up the last of last years parsnips yesterday:three of them weighed in at 4 inches across and 50 cm long. Bring on the roast...

[smc999]

I've sown 2 and 3 year old seed directly and never had any problems in my raised bed (mix of mpc/sand/topsoil). However old the seeds they alway seem to germinate. Carrots on the other hand..........

[Verinda]

My parsnips are always hopeless, more like straws. I think i'll stick to carrots this year.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Parsnip, par boiled, dipped in olive oil, dredged with grated parmesan and roasted until golden brown. What can I say. Deeeeeeeeeelish, perfection, a piece of heaven.

[Verinda]

Yummy...but not if they're spindly old straws! lol

[Acanthus]

Germinated on kitchen roll, all last year's spares have long roots and are ready to go out soonish

[lottie dolly]

Yummy...but not if they're spindly old straws! lol

Just call them snip's chipps

[lottie dolly]

I have tried various ways,and still got snips,but I like the,make a larger dibble hole filled with fine mix,as it's the easiest in the long run,that i believe is what PW does,or did,only thing i do is put a 2 or 3 inch collar of down comer pipe over the seeds place,that way i definately ,do not hoe any emerging seeds,that is now my prefered and only way,

[binley100]

I take out a plug of soil with my bulb planter , fill the hole with compost, water well , sow 2 or 3 seeds then lightly cover with compost ....keep damp till germinated . Last year I lay a polythene sheet over the top and removed as soon as I saw them germinate. Never had a problem growing nice big ones. If I'm everso careful I even manage to transplant some of the excess ones in q sort of leek planting way.