[Andi]

Hello all, I'm new to the site and I just wondered if anyone could shed some light on my parsnip problem.

I planted some seed about six weeks ago and I kept reading that parsnips were difficult to germinate. However they seemed to get away very quickly and were pushing up lovely bright green leaves. This weekend I noticed that they were starting to produce some flower heads, after doing a quick bit of research I nipped out the flowers and thinned them out to every six inches. My question is do you think they will still make roots now that I have removed the budding flowers or have lost any chance of them maturing.

This is my second year of growing veggies. We made a small raised bed in the back garden and I think that it's probably not big enough. Out bed measures about  6 foot by 4 foot and I have some carrots, beetroot, spinach and parsnips.

Many thanks for any advice.

[Trillium]

Wow, that's a tough call. I've never heard of young parsnips putting up seed heads.  Only thing you can do is keep watch that more seed heads don't try to sprout. You might occasionally want to carefully dig around the roots to see if they're actually growing correctly or just stunted. Normally parsley seeds in the 2nd year in the ground and the root becomes tough and woody. But I'm just not sure how such young seedlings will grow.

If in doubt, buy a new packet of seed and plant them out asap in another location. There's obviously something not right about your original packet. It sounds more like cow parsley rather than parsnip seeds that you got.

[sunshineband]

I agree with Trillium, that is very unusual 

If it wer me, I'd plant some fresh seeds just to be on the safe side. Thye take so long to produce parsnips it'll be a shame to get to winter and find out they are duff ones (if they are) from this batch  :blink:

[arugula]

Not wishing to doubt your planting, but the first time we planted parsnip seeds, nasturtiums grew. Once they got to true leaf stage, it wasn't even a matter of these don't look like parsnips, it was a matter of these look like nasturtiums! Seed packet mix-up! 

[sunshineband]

Not wishing to doubt your planting, but the first time we planted parsnip seeds, nasturtiums grew. Once they got to true leaf stage, it wasn't even a matter of these don't look like parsnips, it was a matter of these look like nasturtiums! Seed packet mix-up! 

At least you could eat them 

[arugula]

That's true, its one of the reasons for growing them.

[DD.]

I'd be interested in seeing a photo of said plants.

I've never heard of parsnips bolting so quickly and that coupled with the fact you said they got away quickly started the alarm bells ringing.

We did have an occasion recently where a member was cultivating the weed "fat hen" that had come up where they'd sown seeds.

[Salmo]

Parsnips do not usually run to seed until their second year. Certainly ones planted only six weeks ago would never do so.

Either you have done as others have suggested or you have a rogue packet of seeds and you should complain to the supplier.

They will never produce roots so go out and buy some new seed. If they are planted now you will still have a crop. Leave it a week or two and you will be too late.

A photo would be good. Close up of leaves. One showing a whole plant with root.

[Andi]

Thank you all for your replies, I will try to get a photo and post it if I can. For your interest the  parsnips were T & M Albion F1 Hybrid.

I shall get some new seed and replant them and keep you posted, many thanks.

[arugula]

Do give Albion another try. Its the one we've grown for the past few years and its a great parsnip, although we have a different variety on the go at the moment for next winter.

[Growster...]

You may get them away a little quicker in paper pots, and, as Mum-o-s says, watch out for the tap root, because it becomes very long once the first leaf seeds are still tiny!

Two weeks from sowing should do it (well, they did here)...

[sunshineband]

You may get them away a little quicker in paper pots, and, as Mum-o-s says, watch out for the tap root, because it becomes very long once the first leaf seeds are still tiny!

Two weeks from sowing should do it (well, they did here)...

I tried this last year and obviously must have misjudged when to plant them out as I had a bed full of huge fangs 

[Growster...]

" a bed full of huge fangs  "...

...there's a story in there somewhere...

[sunshineband]

" a bed full of huge fangs  "...

...there's a story in there somewhere...

Fanging parsnips