Parsnips?

[missus]

Does anybody manage to grow these and if so then how? I have sown some seeds but the plants if they ever came up, were buried by weeds and me not knowing which were weeds and which parsnips left well alone until everything was bigger. Now I hear that they are difficult to grow.

I have considered starting them off at home and transplanting, b ut dont know if like carrots they dont like having thier roots disturbed. So maybe I could start them in compost pots, toilet roll tubes or in guttering and then transplant with minimal root disturbance.

Any thoughts?

Sue 49b

[simon]

I started mine at home in multi section trays during the hot dry spring and transplanted them later. They grew well but unfortunately they all look like octapus's (octapie?) because my plot is so shallow.
I am developing raised beds for next year.

[missus]

Thanks Simon, I might give that a try next year. I was under the impression you shouldnt disturb hte roots, so maybe those biopots....

[Lizzypoo]

Last year I managed to grow loads of parsnips - probably planted hundreds of seeds though! They were planted where my potatoes were the previous year, not sure if this was beneficial. They did take a long time to pop through but the plants had a slight lime scent to them - well to me they did anyway. This year has so far seen nothing at all so still waiting and keeping everything crossed.