We can grow a number of vegetables reasonably well except for carrots & parsnips. Our carrots only ever grow small and stunted, very sweet but hardly worth the effort of pulling out of the ground. The parsnips grow big enough, but have multiple roots and very little body, this makes them difficult to prepare. Do I give up on growing them or is there a carrot & parsnip wizard out there can help us?
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We have been transplanting both carrots and parsnips and having reasonable success.
The carrots we are still working on, they tend to grow big diameter down about 5 cm then fork or get narrow very quickly. I think it might be that we are using newly developed soil and there is still a sharp difference in fertility depending on depth.
The parsnips are like yours, good size (up to 1.2KG) but have multiple roots.
I decided that I don't care, being able to pull an entire row's worth of parsnip in one plant makes it worth while unwinding and cleaning each section separately. I cut off the thin ends and cook them in a honey glaze with carrots and usually roast the rest, pretty well all of which is tender and delicious.
Good day Katherine,
We can't grow good radishes either, which like the carrots & parsnips seeds, are directly sown into the soil. So are thinking it could be the soil and shall get some sand to dig into the ground ready for the next attempt.
Katharine said:
Do you direct sow the seed for your carrots and parsnips into the garden or do you plant seedlings? Both these species hate having their roots disturbed or damaged during transplantation. Is there any chance that you are growing a dwarf variety of carrots? Are the carrots getting enough water? I think Robbie's question about the soil type you are growing in is very important as well. I'm no expert on growing carrots and parsnips but I hope that helps.
Many thanks Robbie, weecan't seem to grow good radishes either, think it might be the soil. Shall get some sand to dig in for the next batch of carrots etc.
Jean W
Robbie Deighton said:
What kind of soil do you have? Root veg like carots and parsnips need well fertilized well drained loose structured soil without rocks or pebbles for optimum results
What kind of soil do you have? Root veg like carots and parsnips need well fertilized well drained loose structured soil without rocks or pebbles for optimum results
Do you direct sow the seed for your carrots and parsnips into the garden or do you plant seedlings? Both these species hate having their roots disturbed or damaged during transplantation. Is there any chance that you are growing a dwarf variety of carrots? Are the carrots getting enough water?
I think Robbie's question about the soil type you are growing in is very important as well.
I'm no expert on growing carrots and parsnips but I hope that helps.
Replies
The carrots we are still working on, they tend to grow big diameter down about 5 cm then fork or get narrow very quickly. I think it might be that we are using newly developed soil and there is still a sharp difference in fertility depending on depth.
The parsnips are like yours, good size (up to 1.2KG) but have multiple roots.
I decided that I don't care, being able to pull an entire row's worth of parsnip in one plant makes it worth while unwinding and cleaning each section separately. I cut off the thin ends and cook them in a honey glaze with carrots and usually roast the rest, pretty well all of which is tender and delicious.
We can't grow good radishes either, which like the carrots & parsnips seeds, are directly sown into the soil. So are thinking it could be the soil and shall get some sand to dig into the ground ready for the next attempt.
Katharine said:
Jean W
Robbie Deighton said:
I think Robbie's question about the soil type you are growing in is very important as well.
I'm no expert on growing carrots and parsnips but I hope that helps.