Until now I have had them covered with a 1-metre high frame-and-net arrangement, but the leaves were pushing up against the net and I thought it best to remove it. I have replaced the 1-metre uprights with 60cm ones and I am now using just the frame to support the Parsnip leaves to stop them flopping over and blocking the pathway.
I'm afraid the poor old Leeks between the rows of Parsnips are going to be no good at all, because they are just not getting any light. I'll plant my spares somewhere else and hope they do better.
So what do you think, folks? Do big leaves make it likely that these Parsnips will have big roots? I just hope they are not putting all their energy into foliage. The raised bed in which they are growing had huge amounts of compost added to it when I constructed it earlier this year, as well as some pelleted chicken manure, so perhaps the Parsnips are getting too much nitrogen? Well, whatever the situation, all I can do is wait and see.
If only the top gave some indication of what was happening below ground. You have to feel sorry for those poor leeks.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame about the leeks but I hope your parsnips do go on to provide a bumper crop.
ReplyDeleteMy parsnips had huge leaves last year and the roots were quite large as well. But I'm no expert on parsnips, last year was the first year that I managed to coax them past seedling stage, so it may have been beginner's luck.
ReplyDeleteIn general the root system needs to be big enough to support the foliage. The more foliage the more root, or visa-versa. I think that is true of everything. The more leaf the more photo synthesis. The more photosynthesis the more water and nutrients are needed, and they need to come from the root.....or so I am led to believe.
ReplyDeleteI think the thing about too much nitrogen is more to do with the ratio of leaves to fruit, ie using the energy to make foliage rather than fruit. I'd like to know if i am correct or wrong though :)
Yes, I think that all makes sense. I live in hope anyway...
DeleteYou are more patient than me, I would have pulled one up to look.
ReplyDeleteCarol, I know they are still small, so pulling one up now wouldn't help. What I want to know is, will they be big in 3 or 4 months' time, when they are ready for harvesting?
DeleteHave never eaten a parsnip, what do they compare to?
ReplyDeleteNot too far different from a sweet carrot. But then again, it IS definitely different.
DeleteAll I can say is WOW...can't wait to see what you pull up! I will be getting a total of 3 parsnips this year. Maybe. If they size up at all - they are barely 1" tall right now - and the voles don't get to them first. Oh well, it was a first try at them and a learning experience - next year will be better!
ReplyDelete