[logi06]

I have been on here recently and discovered the reason my carrots and parsnips twist is probably because my beds are not deep enough (one is about 12" and the others are about 8"). I grow beetroot and leek fine, struggle with lettuce and radish. Poratoes are better in builders bags thsn the beds.
The only thing I can think of is buy another oak sleeper to make them deeper to cope with carrot and parsnip.
What do you all think. Views greatly appreciated.

[mumofstig]

Are they on concrete?

[logi06]

Are they on concrete?

On clay with membrane on top but we have broken the seal on this so the plants can go further down






edit to clarify quote

[mumofstig]

Raising the bed and buying in soil to fill it is an expensive option, that I would try to avoid.

I'd just remove the membrane and give the beds a good deep dig over, to break up some of the clay, continually adding home made compost, or get some manure in, to improve the soil each year.

Sow parsnips and carrots direct, rather than into modules, as transplanting can cause the forking.
Until your bed is better, you could grow Nantes carrots, they don't grow very long, neither does parsnip Guernsey Half Long.

[Yorkie]

Depending on how many you want to grow, you could also consider growing them in larger pots.