Top Veg
  • Homepage
  • Blog
  • Gardening Resources
  • Contact Us

How to Grow Parsnips

03
Aug, 2017
By Sally Osgerby
  • Blog,Root Veg
  • No comments

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.
drilling parsnip seeds

drilling parsnip seeds

 

parsnip seeding

parsnip seeding

 

  • sowing depth – 1cm
  • distance between seeds – 10cm
  • distance between rows – 30cm

 

firming seed row

firming seed row

 

After sowing:

  • firm the row down with the rake head
  • water the seed  in  to firm the row
planting parsnips

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.

 

3 true leaves parsnip

3 true leaves parsnip

 

In the second photo, the two seed leaves can be seen below the three true leaves of the parsnips.

parsnip 3 true leaves

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

digging parsnips GoodFriday

The last parsnip in the garden was eaten on 13 April.

dug parsnip

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.

About Sally Osgerby

Recent Posts

  • Earth Day in the Vegetable Garden
  • Dig up the lawn & grow Veg!(
  • World Soil Day
  • World Vegan Month
  • Pumpkin Day 2019

Recent Comments

    Categories

    • About
    • Advice
    • Blog
    • Brassicas
    • Cabbages
    • calendar
    • Carrots
    • chef
    • Flowers
    • fruit
    • Herbs
    • How to grow cards
    • How to Grow Herbs
    • How to grow page
    • Peas & Beans
    • Pests & Diseases
    • Plant Food
    • Potatoes
    • recipe
    • Root Veg
    • Salad
    • Tomatoes
    • Uncategorised
    • Vegetable Gardening

    About TopVeg

    TopVeg is where we talk vegetable growing in all its forms, good and bad. The site discusses how to grow delicious, fresh vegetables for the family, planning for a constant supply to the kitchen, (in gardens, allotments, or window boxes) and generally provides great quality and relevant information to anyone interested in growing their own.

    Latest Posts

    22nd April 2020 | Sally Osgerby Earth Day in the...

    Vegetable gardeners cherish the soil as an essential part of

    16th April 2020 | Sally Osgerby Dig up the lawn...

    If you want to grow veg but have no space,

    Contact

    If you have a comment, question or article idea please let us know and we will get back to you as soon as we can. TopVeg is always interested to hear your ideas & Mike is always pleased to answer any gardening questions, so don’t hesitate to contact us.
    • topvegetables@googlemail.com

    Follow Us

    © 2016 Top Veg. All Rights Reserved