The Simple Guide to Growing Parsnips

Parsnips can be very beneficial to our health, packed with nutrients such as folic acid and vitamin C. They also contain a high amount of fiber to help cleanse our bodies. Furthermore, they’re quite versatile and can be enjoyed as a side dish to main meals or as an ingredient in soups. Growing parsnips of your own is a very good idea to ensure a continuous supply of these delicious and nutritious vegetables.

Parsnips have several varieties. Most parsnips you’ll see are white and cone shaped. However, if you’re interested in having a different type of this plant, you’ll be glad to know that it’s possible to grow ones that differ in size, flavor and quality. Some of the popular varieties are the Tender and True and the Gladiator F1. The Tender and True is described to be sweet to the taste, while the Gladiator F1 is smooth and tender. There are other varieties, such as White Gem, Albion F1, Javelin F1 and Avonreister.

Due to the fact that parsnips grow in the ground for a long time before they are ready to be harvested the soil must be adequately prepared for them. They do not require a lot of space, but their roots will grow deep into the soil. There should be no weeds or stones in the area to halt their progress. The soil itself should be quite rich, and should not be too heavy. For best growing conditions it will have a pH level of between six and eight. Mulching is advisable to keep the soil healthy.

Parsnips grow best in warmer weather, so if you live in temperate areas, the best time to start planting them would be in February or March, at the beginning of spring. They grow fairly slowly, and it will take until around Christmas time before they can be harvested. When planting, the seeds should be spaced at about 3 seeds per inch of soil, pushing each seed about inch deep. Once the seedlings have sprouted, they can be thinned down and given a space of at least 3 inches between them.

A week before you decide to plant, don’t forget to add some slow-release fertilizer into the soil. Once you have planted, you need to make sure that the parsnips are watered regularly. This is so the roots will grow stronger. After a while, you need to concentrate on retaining the soil moisture by watering the plant weekly. If you were unable to add fertilizer into the soil before planting the parsnips, an alternative would be applying liquid fertilizer to the soil monthly. Do not over-fertilize because this can cause weak roots and a bunch of leaves.

One of the advantages of growing parsnips is that they are not subjected to the same pests and diseases as many other vegetables. They are very resilient, and the carrot fly, which will attack the roots, is just about the only pest to be wary of. The main problem associated with parsnips is cankers. These are spots of fungal disease which cause rotting of the roots. They can occur when the root has been damaged, either through excess hydration, digging of the soil, or by carrot flies.

Growing parsnips in your background is one decision you won’t regret. Apart from being a healthy and tasty addition to your meals, they are also quite simple to grow and easy to maintain.

Lastly, before you get started in your own garden, be sure to check out this great article on growing parsnips.