Parsnips advice please

Arthog

I've decided to grow parsnips for the first time, hoping to cheat by buying plug plants but they refuse to be transplanted apparently, so sowing seeds is the only option.
They'll be in an old field trough, about 6ft x 2ft and 2ft deep, in a very open siruation and full of our own compost.
Advice needed please! We are in technically a desert area of Eastern England, though have had reasonable rainfall in the last 3 months. We have 3 months virtually rain-free some Summers.
Can you recommend a more stump-rooted variety? I'm not out to impress anyone with the longest, just need a type easy to dig up, and deal with in the kitchen.

savemoney

Only sow by seeds as you would damage the tap root if they were plugs. You can chit them on wet paper in a warmish room. Its too early for them at mo. They take 4-6 weeks to show in the ground. I gave up growing them because you always have issues with many seeds not growing

alanobrien

A good stump variety is Parsnip Guernsey sometimes known as half long. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251269663120

I have used this variety on the allotment for years with good results.

Be aware the failure rate on parsnip seed can be very high.

The method i use to grow them is to fill a toilet roll centre with good fine compost then plant that in the soil and put 5 seeds in the top lightly covered with compost, then water and leave it.
I do not plant until the soil temp is at least 10c, much lower and the seed can rot in the ground.

As seeds emerge remove the weakest leaving one in place to grow on. I have had 100% success growing them using this method.

Good luck with your growing.

Linda32

They are fuzzy to get going so don't even think about it until mid April when the soil is warm. If you are growing in the trough, the amount of rain makes no difference as you will have to water as needed.

Sallyp2

Hi I have grown 'Tender and True' for a number of years. It’s a delicious old variety of parsnip, with long white roots, grows well and matures at different times, making it handy for us domestic growers/cooks.
I grow mine in old car tyres (get them free from any garage. The garage has to pay to dispose so are always willing to give away a few).
Fill the tyre with a mix of peat free compost and sand, sow seeds thinly, water and away you go. Try not to use peat though as it’s too rich.

Mnd

I sow mine in loo roll centres as well, I sow 2 per roll and last year had 100% germination. So half were sacrificed. I don't plant out until germination has taken place, but plant straight away then.
Still digging last year's, had some for dinner tonight. Delicious 

Fosterdog

We have great success with parsnips every year and find them one of the easiest things to grow. We just sow the seeds directly into the growing trough and when we come to thinning them out have successfully transplanted them from one trough to another. We don't do anything special to care for them, keep them watered and if we remember give them some fertiliser.