[Sideways]

I understand that the best way to grow parsnips is straight in the ground, I’ve read they don’t like being moved from pot to soil but.....

If one was to be very, very careful, is it possible to grow parsnips in pots and carefully transfer them to their growing position?

I’m thinking about the rows I have planted on my plot and the possibility of having gaps when not all the seeds germinate. If I start off a dozen pots in the greenhouse I could use these in the gaps.

What do I have to loose?

Any tips on growing in pots? How big should I let them get and how's best to transfer them without damaging the root?

[digalotty]

i have read that you can start them off in ritches paper pots and then when you transplant them into the ground just rip the bottom out the paper pot,  sounds good to me

[PAH48]

Last few years I've used paper pots....will certainly be doing so again this season..
Not only good rate of germination, but easy to plant out with proper spacings...

[blackisgreen]

i grow mine in trays 2/3 leaf then tease them out ,make a hole with a dibber where a planting then gently drop into hole ,then cover over with soil ,few get forked but most fine ,anyway works for me

[8doubles]

I use kitchen roll tubes for the extra length. You do need to put the tubes in the ground as soon as the parsnip shows because they send a root down deep very fast .
The method has worked well for me.

I sow 3 to a tube and plant the ones i thin with a dibber as above.
You get a lot of funny shapes from these thinnings but they are still good to eat.

[Sideways]

Thanks all.

I've just read Richy's Paper Pot thread, I will be making some deep-ish pots at the weekend and starting off a batch of Parsnips, cut off the bottom when its time to plant out, great idea!

[goodegg]

just make grow tubes like the paper pots but dont fold the bottom when you fill them you fill grow tube and press compost down all around the bottom and refill pot and plant this is what i use for beans as well make as deep as you want and plant whole pot no root disturbance.

[MOLUSC]

I chit my parsnip seeds on damp kitchen roll then add them to loo roll tubes when they start to sprout.
When the roots start to show (from the bottom of the tube) i plant the whole lot tube an all.
I keep them outside  in a clear plastic container and add the lid if cold weather is forecast.

[rock_chick]

I planted parsnips in a seed tray a couple of years ago at college, then when big enough I transplanted them in rows at home. Thought I'd give it a try, even though I was told they don't like to transplanted. We never had such a big crop!! I think every seedling took, and were the largest parsnips we've ever grown! I did it with beetroot too. Just make sure you water them in dry weather (if we ever get any this year!!)

[pipfit]

I do it with Parsnips, swedes ,and beetroot parsnips in rootrainers never a problem

[Cheshire Phill]

Also have started mine off in rootrainers, and am now growing on in a half barrel about 24" high, with a sandy soil mix...should get 20 or so from each barrel, and they are lookign good already!

Phill

[boosh]

I planted the same as MOLUSC but i did not chit them first, i planted two to a tube and all of them germanated, well impressed, thined out the weakest one and planted them in the soil last weekend,
will be planting another row mid april straight into the soil,

[Stoatus]

Another vote for the toilet roll method. One advantage is that you can bodge a deep narrow hole with a bamboo in the middle of the planting hole just before putting them in. The roots will then follow the hole down and avoid any stones, which make them fork. I'm trying toilet roll carrots this year as mine never seem to germinate outside.

[solway cropper]

Just sow them straight into deep containers if you don't want a huge amount. I grow them in flower tubs and they do OK. Multipurpose compost topped off with a couple of inches of seed compost. Pop the seeds in and wait. I do sow about 3 times as many seeds as needed and then thin them out...if they germinate. With containers you can bring them undercover if the weather is bad and still have snips for Christmas dinner. If mine had been outside last year I would have needed a pneumatic drill to lift them.

[Stoatus]

re carrots in toilet rolls:

Don't bother