[Yana]

I read that sowing parsnips before mid-April or early May increases the risk of canker developing. Is this true?

[DD.]

That could well be to do with the first flush of carrot fly.

Not everyone realises that carrot fly also go for parsnips. Whilst the fly tunnels alone are not too evident after you've peeled a parsnip, the wounds can let in canker.

I always grow mine alongside the carrots under the same netting.

[AnneB]

I find that if I sow parsnips now, they just don't germinate.   I leave it until later and net for carrot fly.  I have never had a problem with canker.

[Yana]

I will hold off and put under netting.
I like the idea of putting the parsnips with the carrots as I've always done the parsnips in a separate bed as they are there for such a long time, and i don't like disturbing them. 

[JayG]

I've never found that carrot fly attack on parsnips is as devastating as it is on carrots, although it does happen, and it does let the canker in if you don't net them - I tend to put up with it and peel off the dodgy bits (parsnips are a lot bigger than carrots, or at least they should be!)

I don't sow parsnips until mid April at the earliest which still leaves plenty of time for them to grow to a good size - you can be in for a very long and nervous wait sowing in cold soil (57 days at a soil temperature of 5C, 19 days at 15C.)

[DD.]

I also will be sowing during the danger period, as AnneB alludes to, at least the darn things germinate!

[sunshineband]

I will hold off and put under netting.
I like the idea of putting the parsnips with the carrots as I've always done the parsnips in a separate bed as they are there for such a long time, and i don't like disturbing them. 

I have parsnips and carrots in the same bed, but in two rectangular blocks, rather than in rows along the length of the bed. I found that the parsnip leaves overshadow the carrots all along the adjoining row, so I needed to leave a bigger gap. This way, the gap is a short length, not the length of the bed ..... if that makes sense 

[DD.]

I sow mine alongside the Early Nantes carrots. They're out before the parsnips have chance to drown them out. There's then a big gap between them and the next row of carrots.

[sunshineband]

I sow mine alongside the Early Nantes carrots. They're out before the parsnips have chance to drown them out. There's then a big gap between them and the next row of carrots.

I could try that this year. I had the early carrots elsewhere, and the large main crop carrots with the parsnips --- the idea of the 'expanding gap' is a good one ... thank you 

[Yana]

Thanks everyone, it's been a interesting discussion.
My beds are 2.4m x 3m so I'll sow in April with carrots between parsnips as seems a good idea.

[3759allen]

i had a very poor showing of snips last year. think i tried them too early and the weeds germinated before the snips. for this reason i will be sowing later so hopefully won't have any canker issues and they might actually grow.

seems like too much hassle to start them early, especially when there's so much to do early in the weeksh or so ahead.

[Sparkyrog]

I chuck some radish in with nips they make the row clear ! before the nips are up