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Parsnip Gardening Tips and Advice
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This annual adds nice flavor to vegetable dishes. Parsnip prefers fertile soil that does not bake, though this plant sometimes is difficult to grow.
Planting ParsnipGermination can be tricky, since your parsnip should not reach maturity during midsummer, especially in southern U.S. states. Adequate moisture is essential for good germination. Sow plenty of seeds and then roll or pack a light soil over the seeds to expedite the germination process, which can take as long as three weeks. Then thin plants to about 3 inches apart. Days to Harvest: any time During the month of October gardeners in the northern sections are busy gathering in all the remaining vegetables in their gardens before Jack Frost beats them to it. The parsnip is one vegetable they don’t have to worry about being ruined by frost. In the East and North parsnips can be left in the ground all winter and dug out when you want some for cooking. Freezing seems to improve them and gives them a more delicate taste. In Southern and Western states when winters are mild, spring-planted parsnips continue growing, become tasteless and woody, so they should be planted in these areas in the fall and grown for winter crop. Parsnips are a long-season crop, so the seed should be sown as early in the spring as possible. For all plants that have deep-growing roots as the parsnip, the soil must be deeply spaded. They grow best in a light, rich soil. A generous amount of compost or humus in some other form, incorporated in the soil will help provide soil aeration and a uniform distribution of moisture, besides the source of food supply for the plants. Parsnip seeds germinate slowly and have a very short vitality. For that reason, fresh seed should be secured each year. Soaking the seed overnight may help to hasten germination. It is wise to mulch the rows after planting as the soil must remain cool and moist during the long germination period when the seeds are in danger of drying out. Plant the seeds thickly in rows about 18 inches apart. Plant some radish seed along with the parsnips. The radish will mark the row and keep the crust from hardening, making life a little easier for the frail parsnip pushing through. As the radishes become of edible size, use them and weed and thin the parsnip seedlings to stand 6 inches apart. Cultivate cleanly all season until the foliage touches between the rows. Harvesting ParsnipParsnips may be harvested at time when
the ground has little else to offer. They may remain in the ground over
winter. Dig them during a thaw or when the spring thaw comes. They require
a freeze to sweeten them. Just before the ground freezes hard, some
may be dug and stored in a root cellar for winter use. In spring dig
as needed until new tops start to grow, then dig all that remains and
store them in a cold place to prevent sprouting. After the growth of
new tops begins, the roots lose flavor and soon become lean and limp
as well as tough and stringy. Therefore, begin digging very early. If you like to use parsnip in your cooking, try this parsnip curry recipe.
Tips for growing vegetables: Pumpkins Tips for growing herbs: Sage
Tips for growing flowers: African
Violets Articles: How to make humus by composting Where
to find cool garden gnomes
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