Parsnips in Bottles 2013

ALIBOBSY

I looked at your thread before OP but have never got around having a go. I am thinking I could start some parsnip and carrots off early in the greenhouse with the bottles in some big tubs I have that are waiting for the warmer weather-I usually use them for herbs. Then plant them around the edges of a raised bed-don't have deep bed so think they will help with soil depth.

In fact thinking about it I also have a couple of those "green boxes" normally used for council recycling as well as some green bags from the same thing. Basically the council around this area moved from boxes to a full size bin for recycling and told people to reuse the boxes and bags for other stuff so we have a few of these from various people. The bottled could be planted in a layer of compost/soil in the boxes and the sides would hold it all together, hmmm.

Just wondering how quickly after sowing/growing in the greenhouse I can move them out into the garden?

I have some of the nantes seeds that are supposed to be frost resistant and various parsnip seeds that I will sprout before planting out.

Just love the chance to get growing I think lol.

Got some herb seeds to start indoors shortly as I can stand not growing something once the new year is in.

Ali x

Can I just ask how many you grow per bottle? I read on the old thread that you sowed 2 parsnip and 3 carrot seeds, but do you thin any out or just let them grow?

I am going to try sprouting the old parsnip seeds I have from last year to see if any germinate at all, if not I will use the newer seed but waste not want not. I will only plant seeds that have sprouted so not sure if to plant one or two per bottle.

Thanks

colinS

I've to to be quick I'm between buses in the library at Aylsham.

Two seeds per bottle in the center for parsnips.

Six seed per bottle, spaced in two 120 degrees apart for the carrots.

Thinned to one, and three respectively.

DaftyDuck

They have buses in the library? Sssssssshhhh.... turn that engine off !

moments_of_sanity

ColinS, would starting the parsnips off in newspaper pots and then planting them directly into the bottles create the extra 'legs' growing do you think?

colinS

moments,

Yes, all plants like parsnips and carrots that send down a tap root will do this if transplanted. You could "sprout" the seeds by sandwiching them between damp cardboard or blotting paper, I am trying this at the moment, but only for a few seeds, just out of curiousity. I would advise you to just sow directly in the bottle, just to be on the safe side, I know that will work ok. Two seeds to each bottle, don't worry about saving money, seeds are cheap. Then thin to one, if two germinate. This is one of the advantages of growing the parsnips and carrots in bottles; you don't transplant the plant, you transplant the whole growing site (if you start the bottle off the the greenhouse, and then plant out later), without disturbing the plant.

moments_of_sanity

colinS wrote: »

moments,

Yes, all plants like parsnips and carrots that send down a tap root will do this if transplanted. You could "sprout" the seeds by sandwiching them between damp cardboard or blotting paper, I am trying this at the moment, but only for a few seeds, just out of curiousity. I would advise you to just sow directly in the bottle, just to be on the safe side, I know that will work ok. Two seeds to each bottle, don't worry about saving money, seeds are cheap. Then thin to one, if two germinate. This is one of the advantages of growing the parsnips and carrots in bottles; you don't transplant the plant, you transplant the whole growing site (if you start the bottle off the the greenhouse, and then plant out later), without disturbing the plant.

Thanks ColinS, I will plant directly into the bottles. Just need to save them all up but with my lot, that shouldn't be too difficult! :rotfl:

Flip1

colinS


Followed your instructions on growing parsnips in bottles and have just harvested them. Quite impressed by the results. Three parsnips weighing 9.8oz, 8.3oz and 4.1oz. Only three, there would have been more if I had remembered to take the caps of the other bottles :doh:


Will definitely have another go this year. Thanks

colinS

Flip1,


It's good to hear somebody has had some success with parsnips in bottles. I am just in the middle of doing my audit for 2014, I shall post it under "parsnips in bottles 2014" in a few days time. I did warn about forgetting to take the caps off, I have lost count of the times I have done that. What was the name of the parsnips you planted? Did you try growing carrots also? You are sure to have a better harvest next year, I'm still learning, but each year I learn to correct another mistake; you will be able to read about those in the 2014 post.