Pastinaca sativa is a root crop sown in Spring and harvested over the Autumn and Winter.
Not a regular crop but I am giving them a go this year in a deep bed. There is a good eighteen-inch depth to the bed so although I am growing for the plate rather than the show bench there is room. Being a deep bed also means that there is more control over what is in there i e. less stones to fork the growing roots and a height above ground that some gardeners say deters the only major pest of Parsnips, the Carrot Fly. We will see. Their cultivation is refreshingly simple. Plant seeds in well-drained soil, ensure ample sunlight, and maintain consistent moisture. As they mature, their ivory roots delve deep. Harvest when the foliage fades, revealing sweet, earthy delights. Roasted to caramelized perfection or pureed into velvety soups, the pleasures of eating parsnips are manifold. Some tips passed onto me that I have used, or you might like to try. As the seeds can take up to a month then germinate mix Radish seeds along the rows. A first crop of the Radishes will be taken as the Parsnips are getting their true leaves. And grown at a distance of eighteen inches between rows, I pop in Onion sets for a July crop. Should there be a hot and droughty Summer, the Parsnips will benefit from the occasional watering. A mulch from June onwards would also help with that. And if you are careful, you can transplant Parsnips. Sow in modules from February in the greenhouse or in a windowsill and plant out in late April.
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AuthorI launched this website on 16th August 2020 to bring together my thoughts on gardening,, its importance for health and wellbeing and two projects running concurrently, a renovation of my own garden on the West Sussex coast at Lancing and a nearby allotment. But also to learn from other gardeners about the inspirations for their plots, about their gardening projects and enjoyment of beautiful plants and gardens Archives
February 2024
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