Guernsey parsnip: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow Guernsey parsnips outdoors?
Sow Guernsey parsnip directly outdoors in spring once the soil has warmed up. A soil temperature of around 12 °C helps germination. Choose a sunny position with deep, loose, well-drained soil. Remove stones and weeds; avoid adding fresh manure just before sowing, as it can encourage forked roots.
Use fresh seed. Make drills about 1 cm deep and 30–40 cm apart. Sow a few seeds every 15 cm, cover with fine soil and water gently. Keep the soil moist without waterlogging it: germination can take two to four weeks.
Once seedlings are well established, keep the strongest at each position. Weed carefully to avoid damaging the roots. Sow where the plants will grow, as transplanting can distort the taproot. If carrot fly is a problem, cover the crop with insect mesh from sowing onwards.
How to care for this plant
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Thin seedlings
Wait for germination, which can be slow, then thin crowded parsnips to about 15 cm apart.
How do you harvest Guernsey parsnips?
