Parsnip - Tender and True (Organic) - Vital Seeds (2024)

FAQs

What is the best tasting parsnip? ›

'White gem' parsnips are high-yielding, reliable, smooth-skinned, and have good canker resistance. 'Tender and True': a very popular variety, it has long tapered parsnip roots and pale skin. 'Tender and True' is an old and consistent type that offers a very sweet flavour in the kitchen.

Soil that has been improved with well-rotted manure or garden compost the previous season is ideal. To help ensure long straight roots that don't fork, remove as many stones as possible and loosen heavy clay or compacted soil, but don't add any organic matter before sowing.

However, for plants such as carrots, parsley, and parsnips soaking seeds will certainly help but it is not the ideally the recommended method they should be using. The reason for this is because these seeds are relatively slow to germinate and require consistent moisture on an ongoing basis to germinate successfully.

Growing Parsnips from Seeds.

Sow 2-3 seeds together, half an inch deep, 6" apart in rows 12" apart. Thin once the seedlings are approximately 1" high, leaving one plant per 6" apart. If you are short of space or want to grow smaller parsnips, sow closer together, 20cm apart and thin to about 8cm.

Though they may seem pricey at $2.99 a pound, Tomizza says the seeds are much more expensive than carrots, they're more expensive to grow, harvest and pack and workers have to cut off the leafy tops by hand.

Thick parsnips tend to have bitter, woody cores. Cut them in half length-wise and cut out the core if this is the case. Parsnips taste best during the winter months. They're sweeter when exposed to cold, so keep them in a bag in the fridge.

Parsnip seeds need a minimum of 46 degrees to germinate, but even at this temperature they are liable to rot before they've had a chance to sprout. It is far better to wait until soil temperatures have reached about 55 degrees or higher.

When to sow parsnip seeds. Don't be tempted to use last year's leftover seed. Parsnips have a relatively short viability period so it's particularly important to order fresh parsnip seeds each year to get the very best crop. Parsnip seeds can be direct sown outdoors from April to June, once the ground is workable.

Sow seeds directly into the soil from mid-spring, after the soil has warmed up. Parsnip seed can be tricky to germinate. Always use fresh seed and be patient – they can take up to three weeks to sprout.

Parsnip will tolerate a poor soil, but a bit of compost or Scotts Performance Naturals™ Organic Based Soil Improver is ideal will help retain moisture. There's no need to fertilise parsnips - excess nutrients can cause their roots to fork and deform.

Do parsnips need deep soil? ›

Sow your parsnips directly outside in a well prepared seed bed. Dig the area deeply and then use a line to mark the row before raking out a wide four-inch drill. Water the drill - this will fix the seeds in position. Sow the seeds to a depth of half of an inch and then lightly cover with soil.

Growing Parsnips at the Allotment

Some growers like to soak their seeds before sowing them to speed up the germination process. Also known as chitting. To do this, use a lidded tub like a Tupperware box or old ice cream tub and lay some kitchen roll/absorbent tissue and soak in lukewarm water.

How to choose: Select parsnips that are firm, with no soft spots or discoloration. If there are tops attached, make sure they're fresh and green. Avoid parsnips that have lots of hairy secondary roots. How to store: Refrigerate parsnips in a tightly sealed plastic bag.

Turnips come from the Brassicaceae family, which also includes cabbage and mustard greens. They have a much more round, squatty shape and a pinkish-purple crown. In terms of flavor, turnips have a more bitter, spicy flavor as opposed to the sweetness of parsnips.

Parsnips are divided into three types, based on shape. Bulbous parsnips are rounder, squatter, and tend to be used consistently in food processing. Wedge parsnips are similar in shape to bulbous but are longer, resembling a carrot. Bayonet parsnips tend to grow long and narrow.

You'll find them year-round, but their peak season is from fall to spring. They should be blemish-free and firm. Since parsnips are sometimes sold near similar-looking parsley roots, be sure you're purchasing the right item.