The traditional time for sowing parsnips is February, but parsnip seed can be sown from March to early May. In our vegetable garden the parsnip seeds grow better when the soil has warmed up, & canker is not such a problem with late sown parsnips.
Parsnip – Latin name Pastinaca sativa
We grow the parsnip variety – Avonresister because:
- good canker resistance. The disease Canker is a big problem for parsnips.
- ideal for small gardens
- does well in high density cropping. Growing enough root crops to last the winter is always a problem, so growing more, smaller roots suits us.
There are 3 main shapes of Parsnip:
- bulbous types with rounded shoulders
- wedge types which are broad and long
- bayonet types which are long and narrow
Soil preparation :
- soil is well dug in autumn with a little manure or compost mixed in.
- if the soil is dug in the spring, do not add any manure, as fresh manure causes the parsnips to fork. If manure is not added, sprinkle a phosphate/potash fertiliser over the soil when raking out the seedbed.
- if possible, prepare the seedbed a few weeks before planning to sow the parsnip seeds, by raking the soil down to make small crumbs. This will create a stale seedbed, encouraging the weeds to grow, so that they can be removed before sowing the seed.
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drilling parsnip seeds
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parsnip seeding
- sowing depth – 1cm
- distance between seeds – 10cm
- distance between rows – 30cm
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firming seed row
After sowing:
- firm the row down with the rake head
- water the seed in to firm the row
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planting parsnips
Pull out small weeds as they appear, allowing the parsnip plants to grow without any competition. The stale seed bed system should reduce the number of weeds growing after sowing.
Germination is very slow in parsnips, so it is important to be patient and to keep the row weed-free.
Below is a picture of young parsnips at the 3 true leaf stage.
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3 true leaves parsnip
In the second photo, the two seed leaves can be seen below the three true leaves of the parsnips.
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parsnip 3 true leaves
Thin parsnips to 6 inches apart when the plants are tall enough to handle. Throw away the thinings, as they will not transplant.
Hoe regularly between the rows to keep the weeds down.
Lift the parsnips when the leaves begin to die back in late autumn, or leave them in the ground and use as required. The flavour improves after the first frost.
digging parsnips GoodFriday
The last parsnip in the garden was eaten on 13 April.
dug parsnip
If the parsnips are being harvested, leave them on the surface of the ground to dry before putting them in a cool, dry, dark, frost free place. Do not wash them before storing. Parsnips are easy to grow if you follow the steps above.