Growing parsnips, swede

pennyshahin_2

If i plant parsnip and swede seeds now under cloches will they grow over winter ?

roosterpotatoes

I hope so!!!!
I sowed my swede seeds about three weeks ago and four out of the six seeds germinated, now i have four healthy (for now) swede seedlings which are getting quite big now, they are about 10cm tall with four true leaves on each.
Ive sown mine directly into one of the recycling black boxes from the council, it had cracked and was useless so i thought waste not want not lol
Like carrots, swedes apparently taste sweeter once a few frosts have hit.
Im going to have a mooch about and see what i can find out about this actually, like will we have to put them in the cold frame etc

irishwexford

I sowed parsnips way back in March and should be harvesting them about October. Swede I sowed in July, the plants are well established and getting big. I should start harvesting them also in October. Cannot answer your question as I have never sowed them this late. They do stay in the ground quite a long time, I still had lots of parsnips in ground when I needed the bed in March this year so baked them in batches and put in freezer. They tasted great with honey.

Yorkie1

It's completely the wrong time of year for parsnips - they should be sown in about March and allowed to grow over the summer. You might get some germination, but I'd be surprised if they grow very big, and suspect they'd go to seed next year before becoming proper parsnips.

katholicos

I think you are probably far too late for parsnips, but you could possibly grow swede. I had my swede in many months ago and now they are growing great guns. After the first frost has hit them will pull them. Sorry, this probably isn;t what you wanted to hear/read.

Primrose

I've never sown parsnips and swedes later than April/May, and didn't think they could be sown in summer so I'll be interested in the result you get. Turnips are very quick growers and I've sown them mid/late summer and got a crop so as they're more similar to swede than parsnip, you might get some very small bulbs.