Parsnips require a long growing season, so make sowings as soon as ground conditions are workable.
The roots are ready for harvesting roughly 20-25 weeks after sowing, and can remain in the ground throughout the winter months.
Note; The flavour is thought to improve if the roots are not lifted until after the first frost.
Roots left in the bed should be lifted by March or they will start making new growth.
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Seed germination can be quite erratic, so be advised, do not save seed for the following year, always use fresh seed.
Cultivation;
Week 12; To get off to an early start some people will place seed on a damp kitchen towel to 'chit'
Once chitted the seeds are carefully placed on the surface of multi-purpose potting compost and very lightly covered.
Alternatively; Place the seed directly onto compost to chit then lightly cover when chitted.
Once the leaves emerge prick out seedlings into 75mm (3") pots of potting compost and grow on in a coldframe until planting out time.
Care must be taken to ensure the plants do not become 'pot bound'
To allow this will result in some badly shaped roots at harvest time, therefore it is better to err on the side of an early planting out rather than allowing this situation to happen
Week 20; Prepare seed bed by removing any weeds that have grown over the winter months, rake in a general fertiliser at about 60gms (2oz) per sq m.
When sowing in-situ it is best to do it in ground that was manured for a previous crop.
Form 25mm (1”) deep drills spaced 300mm (12”) apart, and sow 2-3 seeds at 100-150 (4"-6") intervals along the row.
Germination can be somewhat erratic and may take two to three weeks to germinate.
After germination thin the seedlings to leave the strongest one to grow on.
Throw away the thinnings as these do not transplant well.
If the ground is somewhat stony, dig holes at 150m (6”) centers, fill them with compost and sow a pinch of seed.
Alternatively; sink your spade into the soil one spade length (spit) deep, move it backwards and forward to form a ‘V’ shaped trench in the soil, fill this with compost and spread seed thinly along the row.
Cover seeds and, after germination, thin them in stages to allow the strongest seedling to develop at a final spacing of 150mm (6”).
After thinning, water along rows to settle soil around remaining seedlings.
Aftercare;
Throughout the growing season keep the area weed free and do not allow it to dry out at any time.
