Parsnip & Carrot Experiment.

[Bigmallly]

Due to me finding it difficult to harvest Parsnips I have decided to do a little trial. I have divided the 6'x6' bed in half, one half has got 63mm downpipe tubes for Parsnips & 40mm wastepipe tubes for Carrots, all tubes are approx 6" above soil level & 2" below. They are filled with the growing medium & seeds will be sown on top of the tube. The other half, I have leveled off & will grow Parsips & carrots the traditional way. I'm hoping that when it comes to harvesting, I can slide the tubes off the plants and will have a decent grip on them to be able to lift them out. Anybody else tried growing them in tubes/pipes?

[Small pumpkin]

Not tried it, but I like the idea. Don't the professional show growers use that method or something similar?
And would the drain pipe deter carrot fly as they are above ground level.
I might give it ago for my parsnips ( yes I know I said I wasn't growing them again, but when you suddenly find yourself with ANOTHER packet, you can't let them go to waste )

[Bigmallly]

Exhibition growers use a deep sand bed, a plug of sand is removed using a length of drainpipe, the hole is then filled with their preferred medium and exhibition seeds are used.

[Mr Bones]

Haven't used pipe but I did plant by pushing a steel rod into the soil and moving it round to make a conical hole which was then filled with compost. The snips grew almost perfect shaped and pulled out really easily when harvested but it took a whole bag of compost to fill the holes so I didn't do it again.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Was hoping to give this method a bash this year gone, but personal matters got in the way, but will be trying this next year, we can compare notes BM

[Greenleaves]

A little advice based on experience BM, perferate the growing tubes or the sowing/growing medium dries very quickly and there is no capillary action from surrounding soil. Without the perforations I found the parsnips very woody.

[lottie dolly]

I like the sound of the riddle a hole method,but instead of all compost,how about a mix of sieved soil and sand,with just a little compost on the top for the seed to geminate,in the past i have put aprox 3" lengths of down pipe on the soil,mainly so i know where i put the seeds,and help with the weeding,just till the snips are big enough to identify,then remove,soooo,i am now thinking of using them over the holes system,in the hope of all things better,also maybe try some carrot seeds the same way for the same reasons,but closer together with a few seeds sprinkled,when the pipe rings are removed,they should spread out,plus when the rings are in place untill germination,the area can be covered over easier with netting or fleece,just for any protection that might be wanted,either from weather or wildlife,just the thoughts of LD

[Snadger]

I've grown parsnips in 6" pipes and also grown them in a water barrel with cores taken out. Too much of a faff for what I got so I'll just do what I do with carrots, open a vee shaped trench a spade deep and fill with a sandy growing medium. Sow seeds into this.

BM.........if you have problems getting parsnips and carrots out of the ground just flood water around them and they pull out easily!

[cptncrackoff]

I'll watch on with interest BM!

I looked into growing in growing medium and sand..in waterbutts like the show growers do bit decided against it.

Can't wait to see how you get on!

PS.
Push DOWN and twist.. trick to harvesting parsnips.. it works!
But don't tell anyone, it's a secret!

[Bigmallly]

Thanks for all the great advice, the growing medium is currently 50/50 sand & soil, will keep an eye on them drying out but can't envisage any probs as the tubes are only pushed into the beds 2", the bed is approx 2ft deep. Thanks for the tips on getting the nips out.

[the big lebowski]

hi all ,BM the lad on allotment diary on you tube grows his carrots in tubes and did an episode all about it ,i think he grows his in a water butt barrel and the results looked fantastic they looked more like lightsabers than carrots ,cheers

[Bigmallly]

Cheers Leb, yes they are exhibition seeds that he sows. I just want ordinary looking carrots..........not a lot to ask for is it?...........

[the big lebowski]

well good luck with it and i look forward to see how you get on ,cheers

[Bigmallly]

This is what I have in mind, half the bed has different diam tubes & the other half is leveled off for traditional sowings. How it will work out only time will tell:

[Lumpy]

I like the idea BM its a shame I don't have the space to have a go.

We have had no problems at all this year getting the little blighters out because they have been grown in 12in deep link a bors raised beds.

I found that if I removed the top board and then had a ferret I could grab my parsnip and pull out easily.
So I approach them from the sides instead of the top.

When the bed is empty I shall replace the top board, re fill and start with something else.