Winter Crops – Growing Parsnips

It is important, when growing parsnips, to prepare the soil well. Some gardeners dig trenches and then fill them with a mixture of sandy soil and well rotted compost. They may even be raised above ground level in order to improve drainage. The PH of the soil should be between 5.5 and 7.5. Drainage and depth of soil are two factors that will allow healthy plants to develop long, thick roots.

The leaves of root crops may sometimes appear very healthy but the roots beneath them may be disappointing. Roots need potassium and phosphates rather than nitrogen. The balance of nutrients will probably happen naturally if soil is sandy and well composted.

Organic growers eschew chemical fertilizers altogether and rely on manure and compost. Many have discovered the value of worms and the liquid that leeches from them. This ‘worm wee’ is an excellent organic fertilizer than may be diluted and applied regularly to the growing plants with satisfactory results.

Too much water around the roots may cause them to decay before harvesting. They are cold weather plants that will not grow well in very hot, dry climates. However they are adaptable and will grow all over the world if provided with suitable growing conditions.

Seeds should be sown early in the growing season in the well prepared soil, in rows that are about sixteen inches apart. They should be planted about a quarter of an inch deep and soil should be pressed down. Root vegetables in general do not enjoy being transplanted preferring to develop the important part of their body without disturbance. Some people overcome this problem by planting seeds in cardboard cylinders like those used in toilet rolls. Established plants can be moved when convenient and the cardboard around them decomposes.

Germination is quite slow so it is best to leave the young plants where they are in most cases. Surplus seedlings can be thinned out until the strongest plants are growing roughly four inches apart. They will develop good roots if competition from weeds and other plants is limited.

They will remain in the same site from Spring through to Winter when they will enjoy a long harvesting period. Their roots should reach about eight inches in length and are a creamy color. They have leaves similar in appearance to celery.

It is commonly accepted that the roots improve in flavor if they are left in the soil during the first frosts. There are many ways to store them after harvesting to order to extend their lives even further, and they may be frozen or dehydrated.

Growing parsnips probably originated in Persia, now called Iran even before the rise of the Roman Empire. They were known to the Romans and taken to Britain, possibly with the Roman invasion. However, many people believe that root crops such as turnips and parsnips played roles in the development of the Industrial Revolution. They were not only used for human food, but also as a way of keeping animals alive and productive during the long winters.

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