late parsnip question

Fia · late parsnip question

I know I'm late, but there was me today, having last week well dug in pretty well rotted horse manure into a bed, removed all the big stones and today raked to a fineish tilth, reading the back of the parsnip seed packet. I'd not sown it earlier as it said straight in to the ground. The packet said sow in "unmanured" bed. Bugger

Why can't I put parsnips into this bed? Would have thought they'd need all the help they can get.... And if I really can't, what would be the best thing to sow?

Smooth Hound

spinach, spring onions, lettuce, chinese leaves, salad stuff. its too late for parsnips, you could sow some carrots,

Maria

Seem to remember that extra manure encourages the root to fork?? So might be the same for carrots? Could be wrong. I was really really late planting parsnips late year - and although only about a third germinated...i did have some parsnips for xmas din! Some folks thought i was too late planting - could have been as late as July

Could you do the magic toilet roll planting. Have given this a go myself this year. Beg as many empty toilet rolls as you can and plant 2 or 3 per roll. Nip out the weak ones (don't pull as will bother the root) and give them a helping hand by starting them on a window sill - then hardening off. It's a bit of a faff...but will mean you can use your lovely new bed for something that would enjoy the manure....and give you time to dig a wee bitty up for your parsnips.

Apols - long winded - but i would have loved more parsnips in the ground last year - they're delish honey roasted. Yum.

Smooth Hound

theres nothing wrong with forked roots

just makes them a bit harder to wash, but the toilet roll thing works well, parsnips seem to prefer a less fertile soil, a couple of yrs ago i stated some i t rolls, and they were enormous, massive, 1 parsnip was enough for a meal

honestly

Fia

Yup, been saving toilet rolls... so think I might give 'em a go anyway.. I'm loath to plant anything before June as a new gardener due to ex M-I-L always going on about frost...

Smooth Hound

when i did my big ones

i sowed them in the green house in t rolls, about the end of feb, and the day i could see the first root coming out the bottom i planted them, they take a couple of weeks to germinate, and if i remember about another 3 wks, so you should be planting your t rolls out in early april