Growing Parsnips

[Maydup]

I've always grown parsnips from seed in my veggie patch. I know to dig the ground reasonably deep but otherwise they are usually pretty easy.

This winter however the crop was disappointing. The parsnips were small and thin or short and gnarly. What might have been the reason?

[Canary42]

I'm no horticulturalist, but in the absence of informed responses can I suggest that perhaps the very wet weather hampered the germination and/or development.

[Maydup]

I've been trying to remember the weather last year. The spring was very cold and we had snow until very late. Thinking back, I probably planted them later than usual, maybe that's what it was. Then the summer came and the weather was good all through the autumn and a distinct lack of winter. Yes we did have plenty of rain in amongst that lot, thankfully never waterlogged like some, but could also have affected them I suppose.

[Maydup]

.

[Clanad]

One of the most common errors in growing this royalty of the vegetable kingdom, is using seeds that are out of date.
One source says "Seeds will only germinate from material harvested the previous summer. This means fresh seeds have to be bought every spring to sow immediately; any leftover will not be viable the following spring." Additionally the sol must… must be near 50 degrees (F) before sowing. Any earlier will often produce scraggly plants.

Secondly, the thinning process for the seedlings continues throughout most of the growing season… the goal is to have the plants 6 to 10 inches apart by fall.
Even here in the western U.S., where our winters can see temperatures of 20 below zero (F) the lovely tasting roots are excellent as long as one can still dig them out of the soil. If left over 'til next spring they will re-sprout...

[hammerman]

The weather last year was all over the place Maydup. March barely got above 5 degrees C whilst this time last year, it was 2 degrees and sleet. It then got very warm in July and August....did you get enough water on them to develop properly ? also, did you grow them in a new area that may of been a bit too rich or stony ?

[lady-janine]

weather and climate not good for growing parsnips last year. i got very small crops as well. certainly did not need much thinning. hope to do better this year.

[Maydup]

Thanks all, i will buy brand new seeds, de-stone the soil and wait for it to be good and warm before i sow. I think I might have been impatient last year and planted the seeds on the first sunny day. Despite the fact than that wasn't until the end of April, i probably hadn't waited for decent temperatures.

Like you LadyJ i didn't need much thinning the crop never really got off the ground as it were.