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Post by Biggles on Dec 30, 2008 21:35:48 GMT 1
I am going to try growing Parsnips in a container again this year and hope I am more successful than last year as shown by these specimens! ;D Although they do not look very good they tasted lovely and were better than Shop/Supermarket ones. I only grew about 5 in one Container--  I have some seed if anyone wants to give them a go-(Grown in a Container-) I started them off about February on the kitchen window sill because I haven't a Greenhouse. I 'chitted' them (put them on damp kitchen paper) and kept them damp as much as possible untill they showed signs of sprouting. Then I transfered them carefully onto Toilet Roll cardboard which was filled with compost. They do take about a couple of weeks to sprout so be patient!! Anyone willing to give them a try this year? If so I can let them have a few seeds to try--Just PM me with your address-- I will Post photographs as I go along--Bigs This is a Photograph taken about 4 weeks after I transplanted them into the Container-  |
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Post by maggyd on Dec 30, 2008 21:56:59 GMT 1
Ill have a go Biggs we love parsnips and Im sure your right about the taste Ill p.m my address.
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Post by Biggles on Dec 30, 2008 22:33:56 GMT 1
Seeds will be on their way over New Year-
I do hope others will give them a go --Just one Container filled with any soil even if it is just out of the garden because they dont want any manure in the soil (they only 'fork' if you add manure)
And they dont need feeding during the year either!--Easy-Peezy???
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Post by Sweetleaf on Dec 30, 2008 22:48:06 GMT 1
Ill try them in a container just for fun,the seed has to be fresh, for good germination, btw! I had a good crop on my lottie last year, even though I never got to pull them all. Did you know the leaves can make six feet or more if you leave them to bolt? Very attractive to look at too, when they flower, but irritating to the skin... Sleepy has a story about that, ask him to share it!  |
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Post by maggyd on Dec 30, 2008 22:54:26 GMT 1
Oh dont tell me he went pee pee near the parsnips.  |
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Post by Sleepy on Dec 30, 2008 22:58:52 GMT 1
Oh dont tell me he went pee pee near the parsnips. It's a long story. Do you really want to hear it? |
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Post by maggyd on Dec 30, 2008 23:05:25 GMT 1
Of course we do ;D go on Sleepy liven this board up its a long time since we had a good laugh. ;D
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Post by Sleepy on Dec 30, 2008 23:11:25 GMT 1
Of course we do ;D go on Sleepy liven this board up its a long time since we had a good laugh. ;D Well... This'll take about 10 minutes to type |
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Post by Biggles on Dec 30, 2008 23:12:07 GMT 1
Of course we do ;D go on Sleepy liven this board up its a long time since we had a good laugh. ;D Of Course we want to hear all about it-- Thanks for the Tips on Parsnip growing Sweetleaf--you will be able to let us know what to do once they start to grow in the Container--and we get problems--I only grew them last year for the first time-- We will count you in then with the Parsnip Trials then-- |
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Post by Sweetleaf on Dec 30, 2008 23:18:10 GMT 1
Of course we do ;D go on Sleepy liven this board up its a long time since we had a good laugh. ;D Of Course we want to hear all about it-- Thanks for the Tips on Parsnip growing Sweetleaf--you will be able to let us know what to do once they start to grow in the Container--and we get problems--I only grew them last year for the first time-- We will count you in then with the Parsnip Trials then-- Oh yes! ;D |
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Post by Sleepy on Dec 30, 2008 23:25:06 GMT 1
Of course we do ;D go on Sleepy liven this board up its a long time since we had a good laugh. ;D Well... This'll take about 10 minutes to type Many years ago my wife and I had one and a half allotments, side by side. We made very good friends with another couple named Brian and Wendy. One summers day Brian said to me "does your neighbour," (the bloke who had the other half of my half allotment) "want his old parsnips?" They were last years crop that had grown through a very mild winter, and were very large and clearly woody. "If not, I would be very pleased to have them to make parsnip wine" he said. So, when I next saw him I asked him if Brian could have them. He said sure, tell him to help himself. A few days later Brian and I were on the plot, with our other halves, and I gave him the good news. It was a very hot summers day and I helped him dig them up. Brian was stripped to the waist, and I was in a t-shirt. I forked them up, and twisted off the leaf tops. Brian tucked the large leaves under his arm and took them to my compost bin. The next day Hilary (my OH) met Wendy in town. Wendy told Hilary that Brian was in hospital with big, sore blisters all down the inside of his left arm and the side of his body. Hilary said - "Paul has similar blisters on his right hand" Of course they put two and two together quite quickly and had sussed what had happened. Wendy phoned the hospital to tell Brian, who was waiting for a consultant to come back who had been puzzled by the blisters. On his returnm Brian said he thought he knew the cause. "Don't tell me" said the consultant, "Let me guess. Giant Hogweed?" "No," said Brian, "parsnips" That would do the job, Brian was told. Old parsnips, in hot weather, excrete an acid from their leaves. Brian was asked to retrieve the leaves from the compost bin and return to the hospital with them. Now, bear in mind that Brian is a very macho man. A VERY macho man. He was asked to undress completely and have his photo taken, naked, with this bunch of limp parsnip leaves held up like a poor man's bouquet - for the hospital's historic medical records. The very thought of poor Brian's photo still makes me chuckle  |
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Post by maggyd on Dec 30, 2008 23:38:06 GMT 1
 Oh can you imagine they probably had the thing blown up to use as a poster about alergies to show the students poor Brian.
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Post by Sleepy on Dec 30, 2008 23:40:18 GMT 1
Oh can you imagine they probably had the thing blown up to use as a poster about alergies to show the students poor Brian. I did feel for him - but couldn't help laughing ;D |
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Post by maggyd on Dec 30, 2008 23:40:26 GMT 1
Hey its a good thing you told me Sleepy I suffer from nettle rash! its not caused by nettles just looks like it but I do have a sensativity to many things.
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Post by Sleepy on Dec 30, 2008 23:41:59 GMT 1
Hey its a good thing you told me Sleepy I suffer from nettle rash! its not caused by nettles just looks like it but I do have a sensativity to many things. I don't think it is a significant problem with parsnips harvested at the right time - in the first season, and on a cold day (just after the first frost) |
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Post by maggyd on Dec 30, 2008 23:52:50 GMT 1
Oh good.  |
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Post by Biggles on Dec 31, 2008 12:12:49 GMT 1
Thanks for the Warning about "Parsnip Rash"-I dread to think what I would look like stripped to the waist with my Parsnips--Not a Sight to behold! A man maybe but an old wrinkley like me --"Oh No!!" ;D |
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Post by Biggles on Jan 1, 2009 22:11:11 GMT 1
 These are the ones I started off last year in the Cardboard Loo Rolls-- Out of 10 that germinated only 5 survived but I still managed a couple of Dinners (for two) from them. Any one else growing Parsnips in a Container or on the Lottie? I will have to buy Fresh Seed as Sweeleaf has pointed out because they germinate better if they are Fresh--unless anyone has any spare-  -I and Maggs would only want a few-- The ones I have wouldn't be any good they are from 2007!! |
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Post by floweringcherry on Jan 1, 2009 22:35:01 GMT 1
I always grew Parsnips on the lottie, now I just do a couple of short rows on my small veg patch. If I can just add, if you are growing in containers, tubs at least 12" deep should be used. The bigger the better really. Are you giving it a go just for Fun FC? Hope so--then we can compare the results during and at the end of the Season. Yes i will buy my seed next week-- |
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Post by Biggles on Jan 2, 2009 16:33:19 GMT 1
Thanks for that reminder FC. I hadn't grown Parsnips before ,only last year for something different to do but will try again this year.
I am sure the Lottie/Garden grown ones are much easier and are probally much bigger than Container ones.
Any other 'tips' for growing them apart from Fresh seed (as Sweetleaf reminded me)-
Anyone got any to spare?
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Post by floweringcherry on Jan 2, 2009 17:53:05 GMT 1
Thanks for that reminder FC. I hadn't grown Parsnips before ,only last year for something different to do but will try again this year. I am sure the Lottie/Garden grown ones are much easier and are probally much bigger than Container ones. Any other 'tips' for growing them apart from Fresh seed (as Sweetleaf reminded me)- Anyone got any to spare? I think it's all been said Bigs, no manure, fresh seed, they need a reasonable amount of water. I will be buying some seed this year. ;D |
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Post by Sleepy on Jan 2, 2009 17:54:41 GMT 1
Thanks for that reminder FC. I hadn't grown Parsnips before ,only last year for something different to do but will try again this year. I am sure the Lottie/Garden grown ones are much easier and are probally much bigger than Container ones. Any other 'tips' for growing them apart from Fresh seed (as Sweetleaf reminded me)- Anyone got any to spare? I think it's all been said Bigs, no manure, fresh seed, they need a reasonable amount of water. I will be buying some seed this year. ;D Sieved soil, that has not been fed for a year or two. |
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Post by Biggles on Jan 2, 2009 21:00:13 GMT 1
Thats Good F.C. now there are about 4 of us on to this Parsnip Fun Trial--Anymore willing to give it a go?
I will be getting my seed sometime next week--Bigs
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Post by floweringcherry on Jan 2, 2009 22:17:39 GMT 1
Thats Good F.C. now there are about 4 of us on to this Parsnip Fun Trial--Anymore willing to give it a go? I will be getting my seed sometime next week--Bigs Bigs, I won't use a whole packet, if you PM me your address you are welcome to some of mine. Did you want a particular variety? |
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Post by Biggles on Jan 2, 2009 22:32:30 GMT 1
That is very kind of you F.C.--No I dont mind what variety cause I am only too happy to accept your offer. I will PM you my address--Thanks once again--
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-I and Maggs would only want a few--