How to Grow No Dig Parsnips - Quick Bed Prep

[@BalticHomesteaders]

Over here we have little choice but to sow in early June. We had a lovely harvest last year. Parsnips is not a widely available vegetable over here in fact they treat it more like a herb/spice and grate a little into soups, no one ever roasts them, they don't know what they're missing out on :) Anyway as a Brit living abroad it was essential to establish our own supply of parsnips. Thanks for the video Charles, everyday is a school day :)

[@saschathinius7082]

where is "over here" for you, just curious

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Fascinating, and for others you are I recall in Lithuania, with an excellent YT channel!

[@saschathinius7082]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig : I overlooked the "Baltic" in the username

[@angelad.8944]

@@saschathinius7082 his channel says Latvia.

[@saschathinius7082]

@@angelad.8944 : I don't check on any comment if it is from another yt'er...

[@lucybarnard3954]

Really good to see that things don’t always go well for even such experienced gardeners, it gives hope to us newbie’s. I thought I’d missed parsnip sowing dates but now feel confident to sow in June. X

[@Leeofthestorm]

I've always thought that one of the great benefits of parsnips is that the extensively long root system does break! With that happening, the soil is left with a compost corridor deep into the subsoils, which will be home to beneficial aerobic soil microbe communities forever.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great point!

[@martinaaron609]

12:30 The persistant terror of being seen to wield a spade in these videos is consistently amusing!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😂

[@patjoyce7247]

Good to see you digging such a variety Charles, and not being snobbish by making out they're all perfect. We learn much more from failure than success often. I think I'm going to sow some early and some late, same results as you Thank you Charles

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you kindly Pat

[@DestaXiyu]

I have been to different areas here at KZbin searching for skills in Vege raising but I have chosen to settle here, you have all I need. May God reward you more years so that we continue listening to your spectacular secrets in in this industry

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Welcome Tobias. I like that you use the word Skills, I chose it as title of my latest book, from noticing it's what people need information about.

[@delphinium5555]

I agree.

[@suzannelewis3829]

... amazing to plant in a no dig type set-up. ... Great demonstration.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you liked it

[@seanjamescameron]

When I lived back in Wales I grew up amongst the 'old guard' of gardeners. They would sow their parsnips in February! After sowing they would cover the drill with an old floorboard. They would check every few days and as soon as they saw the first green shoots they removed the board and let the seedlings grow. They always had great parsnips but I've never known anyone else outside of Wales who sows this early.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hi Sean, back in the 1980s I always used to sow in February and without using a board, that gave good germination because it was moist enough. The summers were cooler and possibly that was a factor in the lovely harvests, also my soil was a stony brash which grew better parsnips than the heavy clay and silt I have here

[@nanduhud8375]

Maybe the wooden floor board warmed up the ground during the day and helped keep the warmth in the ground during the night. Thx for this info. Will give it a try during August (end of our winter) instead of October.

[@WaddedBliss]

Yeah. I do the same with carrot seeds.

[@jdschuncke]

I've just finished making my first in-ground no dig bed, and I'm so pumped for spring!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Go you John, exciting

[@lilpipskweek6448]

You will never look back John , good prep and luck follows!

[@deanwright1124]

Hi Charles, funnily enough I pulled some of my parsnips today. Gladiator F1. Tomorrow we will be having curried parsnip soup and as for Sunday I will be adding honey roast parsnips to our roast. This is my favourite root veg. Love watching your vids, they are very inspirational.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds delicious Dean and many thanks!

[@thenodiggardener]

Just from my own observations, and working with different soils over the years, I think forking is less to do with nutrients, and stones, although can be the latter depending more on soil type, but is actually more a water issue. After all, I grow my Parsnips next to my Beans every year without issue, and my carrots wherever I have space, in well maintained beds. It's often said to not water roots so much, because you want them to go down and search for water. However, people generally don't water enough to start with, especially when using raised beds and compost. This allows mediums to become hydrophobic. It may look wet on the surface, but underneath will remain completely dry, so if your area is not close to the water table to start with, the roots have nothing to search for. This is what creates large side roots. They're searching for surface water. Other plants do it all the time, it's just assumed that roots don't, and yet wild versions do exactly this. We've just messed about with cultivated food versions to try controlling the tap root, and prevent it. Perhaps, what we're seeing, when you get an extreme version, is a throw back in genetics to the wilder nature of the plant.

[@Jeuro38]

Interesting! An air pruning in a way, where the tap root dries out, leading to side branching. Could definitely be a possibility!

[@thenodiggardener]

@@Jeuro38 I'd go with that. It explains why the original tap is sometimes stunted, but still continues to bulk up, to an extent, but the side roots also rob out the tap, by also bulking out themselves. I don't remember the exact details of it now, but there is also various question about the etymology of the name itself, and something to do with old English, French, and Latin, meaning fork, but remembering all that has never been my strong suit.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good thinking Suzanne!

[@nanduhud8375]

That seems to make sense as the big one was next to the pathway which was covered in wood chips and hence better water penetration whereas the compost has a lot of fine material that can cause hydrophobic condition when becoming very dry.

[@Ed19601]

Humans: not water too much so the root has to go down. Parsnip: not much water here, let's send 2 roots down to increase my chance of finding some"

[@Fireinthesky67]

One of my favorite vegetables. It's almost like candy, sweeter than carrots. Definitely worth growing. Excellent video Charles!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice of you

[@GordonjSmith1]

'Have a go', the most positive and 'nudging' of repeated ideas from Charles D. My thanks.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😀

[@selinanguyentv5125]

thích vườn rau của ông

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

🌱

[@jenniferchristiansen2040]

Thank you for your teaching. This year will be my first with parsnips. Greetings from Massachusetts USA.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Best of luck!

[@geraldcroft9020]

I love it when I realize I just learned a new gardening tip and I just did Making rows perpendicular to the length for easy hoeing, genius! But so commonsensical!!!! Thank you sir Charles

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Gerald

[@pallieter375]

Not my favorite vegetable in terms of taste. I grow them for my sister who is fond of them. I used to dig the soil deeply before sowing them but thanks to Charles I know that this is absolutely not necessary. Saves my back and a lot of time. with no dig my parsnips grow just as long or even longer and very rarely fork. Always a joy to pull a big parsnip from the soil at a time when there are barely any fresh vegetables in the garden. Thanks Charles and keep up the good work!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear, amazed you don't like them!

[@ramthian]

Good morning ☀️

[@stevendowden2579]

nice video charles

[@jeshurunfarm]

Charles, loving how organized your things are. Comes with years of experience. Fortunately we have found a new home for ourselves and will be moving in asap, unfortunately I will probably miss out on your visit to South Africa in March. Respect from Africa 🇿🇦

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ah shame, but nice you have a new home Justus

[@jeshurunfarm]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig beautiful farm on top of amount.

[@SK-lt1so]

I've transplanted parsnips, after starting indoors, with decent success.

[@GrandmaSandy]

Thanks for sharing how to plant parsnips without digging hugs and kisses from grandma Sandy and Debbie

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice of you

[@EastCoastAxes]

The 4th one you cleaned looked like my harvest last year. I used the same seed this past year and had completely different results. No explanation only the weather. This past summer seemed to be cooler but less rain. Zero carrot fly damage this past summer. Last year they were ravaged.

[@lilpipskweek6448]

Jason South Midlands Welsh border/My snips were very iffy this year. Sowed 2/3 times (never before) Then they moped about all year ,poor leaf growth and resulted in small roots a percentage fanged too. Water wasn’t an issue or good growing conditions. I look at the weather every day and notice cooler nights less sun and what happened to that deep blue sky and yellow sun? My hypothesis Less sunlight + less light +coolness = poor parsnips. Possible causes Grand solar minimum by 2025?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes even parsnips need strong sunshine, and I just hope that the solar minimum/atmospheric dimming is not a factor in our gardening

[@dn744]

So much nicer than watching TV

[@omeshsingh8091]

14:14 - From the aerial shot the topography of your location looks like it is sloping down towards that area. Perhaps that is why the smaller clay particles accumulated there.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Well spotted. Also that is made-up ground with spoil from the 1960s digging of trenches for a greenhouse, which was where my compost bays are now

[@kevinsep90]

thanks Charles, I have learned a lot watching your channel, greetings from Chile!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are very welcome Kevin Nicolas

[@eadjh98]

My favourite vegetable after onions, and has to be a lot tastier than the shop bought variety! Nice growing tips in the video Charles! Thanks, 👍👍

[@kimliennguyen8284]

So beautiful, thank you for sharing ❤

[@lisabevans8107]

I love most all vegetables, but there's jut nothing like a parsnip! Yummy! Ty Charles.

[@louisehunter9121]

I was delighted with my Christmas crop of parsnips, I am a new gardener and I grew them in a large container :) made Christmas dinner extra special !

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds great! Congratulations.

[@wardy89]

I had really bad canker with Gladiator last season, had to lift them all fairly early to salvage what i could.

[@i.a.4694]

Dear charles, I love your videos. They are inspirational and really helpful. Lots of greetings from hamburg. Ingrid

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks a million Ingrid! I stayed in Hamburg 1979 with a touring dance group, small performance, ate a lot of sausage!

[@roccoconte2960]

I knew someone who use to plant them in clay fluliner and just lift up the liner when ready, interesting video Charles.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wow!

[@delphinium5555]

Just the video I was looking for, thank you! I was thinking the same about it being ok to add a finely broken down compost to the top of the bed as being advantageous too. Love your honest and relatable approach. Subscribed.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad it was helpful! And thanks

[@RafsKitchenGardenChannel]

Very interesting to see what the garden area looked like a long time ago, I have problem with fleece on the allotment it was getting torn so often (maybe one I bought was to thin ) I end up using veggiemesh which doesn't prevent frost as good but I think at least provides some wind cover.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes Raf, probably you were sold the thinnest grade which is designed to self-destruct. See if you can find 30gsm fleece. As you say, the veggiemesh is quite a good alternative because although less warm, it will last much longer

[@bloggalot4718]

I have pre germinated parsnips on damp tissue with success in the past.

[@ADRYAN-farm]

Hello! to have a productive year .... Respectfully Adrian

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I wish you fine harvests Adrian

[@craigmetcalfe1749]

Hey Charles! You read my mind and answered a question when demonstrating your hoeing prowess. I wondered whether it was better to remove weeds when the soil was wet or dry. I was thinking about impact on the soil structure more than anything else. I hope I have interpreted your advice correctly. BTW I consider parsnips a necessary stable to any winter cooking (parsnip puree, or roasted parsnips in agave syrup or honey, or adding some parsnip to a hearty Winter soup). This is a very thorough video and much appreciated. Cheers!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Craig, I'm impressed you grow them in Oz!

[@lilpipskweek6448]

Thanks Craig. I am told that parsnips were the staple root source or ‘go to’ of winter carbs and nutrients before the potato was introduced. I can only imagine folks with knicker bockers and clogs growing them in Elizabeth 1sts and before that times. I think they knew something we dont.

[@hansonrh]

I grew parsnips this year for the first time in Virginia Zone 7a. We have brutally hot humid summers. It was hard to find info on when to plant exactly, but I planted in early April. I covered the planted seeds with a board until they sprouted. The bed was a minimally dug new bed (which will be transitioned to no dig). I was unsure of what to expect. Aside from a few weeds at the start which were promptly pulled, I did interplant with radishes to help keep weeds down and give some soil shade. I watered about once a week if it didn’t rain. I was amazed how they grew with such minimal attention. Virtually no pest pressure. I waited until the first frost to harvest, which came late this year (November 15) and harvested the most luscious parsnips I’ve ever had. We’re only now finishing the last of them. It was a good bit of work getting them out of the bed, though. My hunch is that they ultimately helped loosen the thick red, rich clay soil beneath as some of the taproots were huge. Can’t wait to grow them agin this year!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is a wonderful result Rebecca and thanks so much for sharing it, I'm impressed that they came through such a hot and dry summer.

[@camicri4263]

That's great, I will try that too this year hopefully! I am trying to get a bigger place and I hope will be in time , I live in Georgia with the same humidity and red clay like you! Good luck Rebecca!

[@kpand7232]

I always sow in feb and my pasnips are HUuuuuuugh for harvest in nov-march. This year 1.3kg was the biggest. I love them. carots are little schnitches but parsnips are really easy with no dig

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Superb, empowering!

[@sheilaren123]

Thank you for sharing your videos

[@chrissargent3008]

I find using a straight prybar driven deep, a few inches away from the parsnip and prying away from the parsnip, disturbs less soil than a shovel and loosens the soil enough to pull the parsnips straight out.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice tip thanks Chris

[@tinkeringinthailand8147]

Wonderful work Charles. I love to watch your lessons, I have learned so much through watching your videos, even though our climates and seasons are totally different. I have taken your advice of growing sweet potatoes and sweet corn in my HOT summer, currently learning about growing slips and managing Army worm ;)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice to hear and wow, Thailand!

[@jakobbrun6535]

Beautiful showcase of how long parsnip roots get! No wonder you don't have to water them - that root is at least two thirds of a meter if it isn't longer. Beautiful, and parsnip fresh from the ground is just a wonderful meal. I grew some in a 'hügelkultur' bed (soil(compost on top of branches and sticks) - cannot recommend! The root actually "grabbed on" to the sticks and almost seemed to pull themselves down, and it was near enough impossible to get them out of the ground. Huge roots though! They kept well in the ground even through some hard weeks of freezing.

[@Emeraldwitch30]

My grandparents and aunty always left their carrots/parsnips and rutabaga in the ground during winter. They put down a tarp and sat bales of hay on top. I can remember helping them dig out fresh for dinner in winter a few times. The flavor of carrots that were dug in winter were like candy. Parsnips too always had wonderful flavor. I've never had rutabaga in summer so not sure if the taste is different/ better after frost/cold but I'd guess it doesn't hurt.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Brilliant message!

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

Great demonstration. Enjoy watching the growth from beginning to end, especially as new gardeners. He had Parsnips soup last night from a neighbor that gave us some of hers. Looking forward to our own this year 🤞 Cheers Charles From Victoria Canada

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😀

[@woolly-head]

Watching this video has made me feel so happy! Thank you 💓

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

How lovely thanks Anne

[@singncarpenter6270]

Your videos with planting and results are fantastic Charles. I think this is the first time I've seen you use a shovel. Great stuff.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks 👍

[@j.szelecz2530]

GREAT share , THX ! ----- from. Canada. J.

[@lvee7569]

I love parsnips but here in Melbourne, Australia they are expensive to buy and generally not very fresh. Keen to grow my own, though space is at a premium in my veggie beds. I think you have inspired me to give it a go, though. Those are the biggest, most beautiful parsnips I have ever seen!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Oh wow! You could try sowing some very soon, at the end of summer for small parsnips by June

[@paolaflebus7136]

Che meraviglia! Io le ho seminate quest' anno per la prima volta,non mi aspetto però risultati così sorprendenti! 🖐☺

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Oppure potresti!!

[@paolaflebus7136]

🖐☺

[@woodworks2123]

Another good video Charles. I just wanted to say, I asked you a few weeks back which book you'd suggest To grow as much food for my families consumption on my half plot. You suggested your skills for growing. I ordered that and the growing calender. I have to say, it's a fantastic book, I have just finished it and I have already put into practice some of your methods, particularly the multi sowing modules for the onion family. I did the maths and using this my overall yield should increase greatly. I love how you sow more onions than you want so you get a crop of salad onions as you thin. This kind of thinking is worlds away from an RHS veg growing book I got years ago. I particularly liked the bit at the end of the book about, the alternative growing practices. Most I hadn't heard of beforehand. Very fascinating and worth giving them a go as they have very little cost but may help as any good scientist should admit. We still have alot to learn. Where do you get your copper tools. That's a fascinating subject I had never heard before.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you for your feedback, that's always nice to hear and the copper tools are available in the UK here implementations.co.uk

[@Winter_IsHere]

My parsnips did not work out last year. With your info I might get success this year.

[@jantaylor7102]

Hmmm I love parsnips will definitely give them a go in my no dig garden 😊

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😀

[@markporter45]

I hope you managed to scrape through Storm Eunice without too much damage ! Over in Street my greenhouse is looking more like the leaning tower of Pisa

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Oh dear! Mine is intact thanks, but it wobbled a lot.

[@mudoh2131]

Tasty looking parsnips Charles. Understand that you need to consider the best looking specimens for sale - bet the rest tased fabulous at home. Just reaching the end of my parsnips from last year and hopefully will sow the first lot of this year tomorrow. Great information as always.Love that you also share when things are not perfect.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks, and well done!

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Great tips. I'll be trying 2 variety this year.

[@waynesell3681]

Have been using the swivel hoe more really like it. Lesson on the swivel hoe use and so much more! Thank you

[@virgokite]

I watch everyday on your Videos

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚 thankyou!

[@Pixieworksstudio]

Thank you Charles, that was a great start, to finish.

[@tonileigh8660]

I had terrible luck with parsnips last year. Everything else did great, but not a single turnip. All new seeds. Trying again this year, but will germinate the seeds in the house first, then plant the germinated seeds outside and cover them with milk cartons when they sprout leaves.

[@dominichook8423]

Hey Charles, You mentioned towards the end of the video how you’ve spent so little hands on time growing these and I thought of a slightly ambitious video format. It might be difficult to manage, but I would love to see a video showing EXACTLY how much time goes into a vegetable harvest from start to finish. For example, you film every step of growing the parsnip and cut it together in real time. Say the video is 1 hour long as that’s the active time spent sowing, thinning, weeding, watering and harvesting. If this format wasn’t attempted, there’s nothing lost as I love the detailed dates etc. on your videos, but just thought I should let you know I would watch if you made a video like that!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Dominic. It's unlikely for reasons only of logistics, would be fun!

[@xSunshinex4206]

2022 will be my 5th year trying to grow parsnips. It always fail 🙈 I hope this is the year it is a success🌻! Every year I´ve tried to find as fresh seeds as possible, so maybe it is just a drying out issue. Let's hope - thank's in advance!💚

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

2022 is the year. With no dig, they grow so well

[@jonathanharvey4879]

I have found chitting the seeds first and then sowing at final spacing (OK a bit of a faff but saves time thinning latter on) in April works well for me here in Suffolk. The White Gem being my choice and Still Lifting the last few now, having the same size as yours although being a traditional tilling Gardener.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds good Jonathan, and I would switch to traditional no dig :)

[@jonathanharvey4879]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig You don't need to switch to no dig , you've nailed it!

[@kerryl4031]

We are a bit further west and pretty exposed, so the wind and rain come howling in. I've tried growing by laying down fleece - because of the pheasants having dust baths, and weather protection, but the rain just mashes the fleece down and squashes any seedlings - voles are happy to steal some fleece for bedding too. I did have better results by using a hoop frame. But overall whatever works is fine by me. We are going back to using deep bed frames though, as the extra height around the bed gives more wind protection - and the covers are easier to stay put from pushing the hoops further down into the ground - shillet under a foot of soil, sometimes less! Thank you for showing that you also get funny chunky, weird rooted ones and that it isn't just me, but mostly we get lovely roots. Also relieved that you have to lever them out - I was never able to do the push and pull system when we lived in Hampshire or here. Happy growing!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks for this Kerry, sorry you have such weather, we are fortunate here

[@gypsygem9395]

On another channel (My Family Garden) the presenter said he sows certain seeds (peppers & chillies, amongst others) in cold tea prior to sowing. I might try this with some of my parsnip seeds, just to see what happens! Hopefully I'll have better luck this year!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

🍺!

[@doraveitaite]

White Germ is my favorite parsnip variety for years. tried few others, but was never that satisfied. even in heavy clay soil they grew nicely in Bavaria, Germany

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks for sharing Dora.

[@delphinium5555]

I always grow White Gem too

[@jeil5676]

I was just thinking about parsnips as I was looking for a soup recipe for left over pork.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Perfect!

[@ximenaisabeljimenezgalindo9044]

Hola Charles adoro tu jardín y la pedagogía con que explicas, gracias saludos desde Chile 🤗🇨🇱

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Muchas gracias

[@patriciaphillips6925]

I love growing parsnips. They are quite long to dig out, i get a workout in fall. I plant the seeds in fall and they come up easily in spring.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds great Patricia

[@janetbull2616]

Brilliant Ben definitely planting out more companion plants this year, thanks for advise👍

[@sjk7314]

You make it look so easy! I definitely want to grow parsnips this summer. They are not very popular in the USA but I was introduced to them while living in Poland many years ago. Love parsnips in my soup! I find I pay a dollar or more per parsnip in the grocery store here. Crazy.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I'm sure you can do it!

[@richm5889]

The advice I've had for getting parsnips out of the ground is not only to push down, but also to twist the parsnip to dislodge the roots and then rock it back and forth and side-to-side slightly. I've yet to try it - this is my first year growing them but I've seen videos where it seems to work.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes indeed, but watch closely and I think you'll see how they are doing that in softer soil, even raised beds with sides so there is more compost on top. Here almost all of the parsnip is in heavy soil and it rarely works to get all of it out, without some kind of leverage with spade or fork, as gentle as possible

[@davidrevitt7470]

Great video,can't start off by sowing direct in soil,slugs would decimate the new growth can you give me tips for starting off ,sowing in pot or root trainers,just the tap root to take into account,thanks

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

The tap root will fork, unless you transplant them when they are still very small, and you would need to use a long pot such as a toilet roll. I find that slugs do not eat parsnip seedlings much and you could try sowing in late May to early June, so they come up fast, keep the grand moist.

[@micheals1992]

I grew no dig parsnips last year and they was really successful. Although I did have to use a fork to loosen the ground to get them out without snapping them, it's surprising how deep they go.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

🏆

[@micheals1992]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig I was quite surprised to be honest because our soil has allot of stones in it. Didn't think I'd have any luck with root veg like carrots and the parsnips was massive, probably about the length from my hand to my elbow (maybe 13-15 inches)

[@darrenwalker905]

Parsnips, my favorite veg. Have tried to grow it for several years, but only had one year of success. I use traditional tilling and amend with loads of compost. For the past 2 years I have burned holes into landscape fabric and direct planted into them with great success in my garden. But this year I plan to try a patch with no dig and see where it goes. I am very hopeful. Thanks for taking your time to share your experiences and advice! From snow covered and frozen, Wisconsin.

[@ogadlogadl490]

Im zone 5, Darren when you thinking of trying to plant them?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds great Darren, nice to hear

[@darrenwalker905]

@@ogadlogadl490 I am zone 5 as well. Typically I have seeded my parsnips early May. Our average last frost here is April 28th, so I usually wait another week or two.

[@kevinbazan1623]

Best of mornings to you, Charles! Thank you for all of your garden content. Your knowledge is so appreciated. What kind of brush do you prefer to use when cleaning off root vegetables? All the best from the middle of Michigan, USA, ~Kevin

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice of you Kevin, and we call it Churn brush, stiff bristles

[@kevinbazan1623]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig, I greatly appreciate your reply and will add one into our garden tool assortment. Cheers! 🍻

[@lilpipskweek6448]

Thanks Charles. Its probably not practical on your scale but I use a long iron wrecking bar (the big nail my children call it). I have never seen a bronze one And make holes wiggle to form a conical parsnip shaped hole shoulder to shoulder without collapsing the previous hole. This I fill with sieved compost and sand (sea sand is best as parsnips are seaside saltophile? plants) 50/50. Make a moon crater (with the back of the hand)and sow seeds. I put at least 7 seeds to allow for wasters and thinning. I know this sounds a faff but once geared up it doest take long! I get great quality snips every time with little canker as the compost mix doesn’t scratch the crown. Aaaand the snips are so easy to lift intact with minimum disturbance to the no dig strata. I will try your method this year thought on a row or two. Love your vids

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you Lil, and that is impressive dedication, and the results sound fantastic! I love how all of us have variations to suit our desires and gardens.

[@barrypetejr5655]

I think they look tasty Charles.....good job👍

[@brianhalse4120]

Zone 10a. For several years planted germinated seeds in containers with mixed results. This year in October sowed seed direct in garden & germination was excellent, now protecting plants with shade cloth. Fingers crossed🤞

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good to hear this, I wish you a fine harvest

[@davidrevitt7470]

Thankyou

[@lulajohns1883]

Great video

[@nigelclifton5814]

I've never grown parsnips but I do grow salsify and scorzonera. They always germinate and grow well, which I cannot say for my carrots. The only problem is the harvesting as I can never remove one without it breaking in two. Last week I tried digging a hole a spade deep and then putting the spade into that to try to lever them out. They still broke, so maybe I will just have to accept it. But if anyone has any suggestions I would be very interested.

[@JaiHylRubis]

Brilliant info as always brother Charles, thank you from Tipperary, Eire. 💞 btw, you scare me leaving your rake on the ground lethal side up, do take care dear man. 🤕 . . . and what a lovely copper spade! I was advised by Ark, who is the head gardener at the Glastonbury Chalice Well Gardens, that using copper tools deters slugs, have you experience of this? lol Please tell my brother Simon to buy you a few pints, tell him I'll reimburse him 😂 💖🙏🌻

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Love this, I need to go out more!! I have heard that claim about copper tools and it might be true! However there are so many causative factors that it's hard to isolate any one. The biggest of all is no dig and leaving soil ecology in place, for example the ground beetles which eat slugs and slug eggs. I hope that all is well for you in your remote province!

[@JaiHylRubis]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig as a freind said to me, "middle of 'nowhere' is the center of everywhere in this age of communication" 😃 Beetles eating eggs, now that may be why we have less slugs since 3 years no dig. Thank you Charles ... do get my big brother to buy you some pints! Wish I could join you both! 💖🙏🌻

[@saschathinius7082]

I harvest my parsnips with an asparagus (white) harvesting tool (called Spargelstecher in german. no clue in english), a metal stick (40cm long) with a wodden handle and a slighly crooked blade (3-5cm wide a bit like dovetail) at the other end, you go into the ground besides the parsnip and then snap the tap root with the blade by angeling the tool, in most cases I can then pull the parsnips, with alot less soil disturbance... also good to get to the deep roots of bad bindweeds... might want to try this

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great tip, love that word, can be deutschlish spargelstecker :)

[@saschathinius7082]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig : watch out Spargelstecher has also a bit of a 'naughty' conotation/double meaning... if you want to see the tool in question just google it... the workers who do the harvest of Spargel/asparagus are also called Spargelstecher as job role/job description

[@saschathinius7082]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig and your denglish spargelstecker means asparagus plugger, btw

[@davidfoster-smith211]

'Spara-stick maybe is a good translation. Asparagus= 'spara-grass is what I learnt as a 9 year old boy. (sounds like sparrow grass)

[@MadAsBagOfMonkeys]

Mmmmm sticky toffee parsnips my favourite. Mindst I use a fork to ease them out, less disturbance than a spade? Not had any rot, yet, but I've probably had a touch of carrot fly 🤔

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Doing well Kenneth

[@cisaac2892]

Is it ok to use cedar wood chips for the paths in a no dig garden? Any plants that wouldn't do well? Thanks for your great videos.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes you can. Not too deep and preferably young wood.

[@cisaac2892]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thankyou

[@lyndaturner6686]

Brilliant demonstration Charles, I have found I have to use an unopened seed packet each year to get a good germination , but I’m wondering if sowing later may actually help the seeds germinate better even with an older packet , so I’m going to test out that theory this year .

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good idea Lynda!

[@Emeraldwitch30]

Ive found with parsnips their seeds are notoriously hard to germinate. Even with fresh seed each year. I've put seed between paper toweling and carefully use my big tweezers to only plant each seed that sprouts. And I plant out the seed when the little root is just peeking. If I let the rootlet get too big they don't do well. I love parsnips its not popular in the US like it used to be when I was young. My husband and his family had never eaten them except for his father who vaguely remember his grandmother making them. I mixed with carrots and had them in a bit of butter sauce. They loved them and had them off and on after. In my family tho I had never had turnips until about 3 years ago and I do grow them now love them too. I love seeing how and what others eat.

[@judithprankard3738]

I have always found that new seed should be used each growing season, they just don’t keep well

[@chrissy4782]

PLEASE HELP: My parsnips were doing beautifully when one day I found some with the tops chewed completely down (assuming the root is still intact). I suspect groundhogs, squirrels, or chipmunks 🐿️ (the only wild mammals in our yard), not deer or rabbits. Can they be saved? Will the tops grow back and continue to grow the roots or is all lost?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sorry to see this - it sounds like you have lost them, could harvest the bottoms only, they cannot grow more

[@sandrafuentes3449]

Gusto de verlo. Gracias por el video ❤️

[@edcarlosribeiro2316]

BRazil São Paulo deus ti abençoe meu 🇧🇷👏👏👏

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Bravo!

[@Richierpw]

I grew Parsnips for the first time last year here in Ireland and harvested the last of them this week. I got some fantastic sized ones, all no dig. I felt bad using the shovel to get them out so much happier seeing you do the same

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Bravo Richard, thanks for sharing

[@jamesf3283]

I usually thin my parsnips twice: initially once they've developed two or three leaves just to give the remainder space to grow, then again when they're a little larger to remove any that look weak and to leave them at their final spacing. Last year I grew three rows lengthways along a 1.2m wide bed and quite a few of the roots have grown very big (4" or perhaps even more in diameter at the shoulder) which can often mean not enough or far more than we want for a single meal, so perhaps this year I'll make four rows instead. I like the idea of sowing in June. Last year I sowed them all in the second week of April, but perhaps this year I'll split them into three batches three weeks apart (or even four batches two weeks-ish apart) starting around the same time and ending early in June.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice work James!

[@jsbadger]

Thank you so much for showing a bit more about deeper rooting vegetables! I've had a curiosity or two lately, in reference to what you grow. 1- do you have any recommendations of someone to watch or learn from (or perhaps yourself!) on how to prepare what you grow (Charles cooks!) As i see it, its just half the equation to grow it. And 2- how much of what you grow goes to market and how much is for your table? Thank you again for all you give us by sharing.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad it was helpful! I love cooking but to show it on videos is a whole 'nother life! Let's see. And about 7/8 is for selling.

[@gypsygem9395]

Good morning Charles, many thanks for the video. I personally don't like parsnips, but I have attempted to grow them for other members of my extended family. However, even fresh seeds did not come up at all last year. I'm wondering, could it have been that the birds might have eaten them, as I didn't put down fleece (I may also have sown too shallow)? We are in rural Lincolnshire, lots of varieties of bird here! I'll certainly follow your advice this year!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Perhaps both. Sowings at 2cm hold more moisture near the seeds.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Plus... think how you like them when sowing!

[@paullittle5200]

I had the same problem last year, none appeared yet previously I've always had a good crop every year was wondering why?

[@gypsygem9395]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig I'll try - I'll think of parsnip wine! Thank you for your replies

[@tabbiealdrich6623]

Query: can parsnips be transplanted? My parsnips reseeded in the woodchip path next to the bed. Some roots are horizontal but some are small and look OK. I've r re planted them deeply then pulled the plant up to straighten the root. If you think they won't grow, I'll remove them. Love your videos. Thank you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hi Tabbie, there are two aspects to this. One is that you can transplant them and they will grow, while the other one is that usually in transplanting parsnips, the tap root is damaged and then the resulting parsnip is quite short and fat, with many small roots coming out of the bottom

[@tabbiealdrich6623]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks Charles. I'll take my chances with them and hope that the seeds I planted will sprout.

[@trendtraderx]

For home user probably closer sowing to get smaller ones that come out easy?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good thinking, so many ways, or sow later

[@benjaminevans9137]

G'day Charles Dowding, gardener Ben from Australia, Love your videos and garden wisdom, Is well composted or healthy living soil a natural wind break against wind drying out the soil? I meant healthy soil less moisture loss/evaporation? any chance you could cover wind breaks or ways to reduce unneeded moisture loss during the warm months? unless you have, much appreciated, Happy Gardening :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Ben, and I have not covered this already mainly because our climate here is not often that dry. Should that happen, we can film it! Soil which is not disturbed and has a cover of compost certainly retains a reasonable amount of moisture and I hear good feedback from high desert regions of Utah for example, in the US.

[@flickwolfe]

Thank you for the info on parsnips! I've been doing no dig in my garden since discovering your channel in 2020 which is resulting in amazing crops. I was feeling a little guilty about digging my parsnips. But I have actually been doing just as you have shown. I am hoping the bits that might get cut in lifting provide food for the microbes and help to improve the soil further down. Being in New Zealand I also (attempt) to grow kumara or sweet potato which forms tubers quite deep down. Do you have any tips on growing deep-rooted vege as no-dig or nearly no-dig? Thanks again for the wonderful video and channel. It has transformed how I think about gardening.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cool, and check out Sascha's spargelkelter asparagus knife! Sweet potato, tricky for no dig!

[@nanduhud8375]

I also live in NZ and try no dig. I noticed that sweet potato were grown on mounds at the Hamilton Gardens in the Māori section. These mounds were quite big. I tried smaller mounds but some of the heritage varieties still went down deep. So will have to try bigger mounds. Hope this helps.

[@flickwolfe]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you, I will have a look at the knife!

[@flickwolfe]

@@nanduhud8375 Good tip! I'll definitely try that next year. Thank you!

[@georgez234]

5:44 Rabbits are very tasty if prepared well, especially with a brown gravy. All it takes is a .22 rifle if you can have one and use it where you live. :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

No rifle, would need license

[@jillachen7217]

Thank you! From zone 3a Baudette Minnesota USA

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are welcome