Absolute minimum spacing BOTH WAYs for parsnips?

[GrannieAnnie]

I'll be hand weeding parsnips. What do you advise for the absolute minimum spacing? Sometimes I think the directions add extra space between rows thinking folks are using equipment for weeding. I've never grown parsnips but they have finally sprouted in the "loo" rolls so I'm ready to roll!!

[GrannieAnnie]

[manicscousers]

we do them 9" each way and thin them, and eat them  when young  ;D

[djbrenton]

Well based on some rows of carrots I grew once, as little as teh width of the parsnips you want. In a desperate last-minute attempt to get some carrots I sowed two thick rows and didn't thin them out. I ended up with thousands of baby carrots constricted by their neighbours. If you're hand weeding I reckon 3-4 inches would be far enough apart to get worthwhile parsnips.

[star]

I had about 7" betwwen mine last year. But don't do what I did and put spring onions between the rows. The nips grew faster than I expected and grew over the onions and they were never seen again ;D ;D ;D

[GrannieAnnie]

So anywhere between 3 " to 9 " apart?!  That's quite a spread!  LOL

[star]

 ;D ;D ;D ;D Meet yourself halfway and do 6" ;D ;D ;D

[Jeannine]

The only packets I have that gives specific say(Hollow Crown), sow thinly in rows 16 inches apart, when large enough  thin to 3 inches apart, then remove every alternate parsnip to a final spacing of 8 inches when they are 4-6 inches long.

The Exhibition long says  30 cm each way.

The Dagger mini says thin to 3 inches apart in 10 inch rows

xx Jeannine

[GrannieAnnie]

 It's the  "in rows 16 inches apart" that seems excessive if one is hand-weeding.

[Eristic]

It's the  "in rows 16 inches apart" that seems excessive if one is hand-weeding.

Not if you grow proper parsnips. I believe parsnips taste better if they are bigger.

[GrannieAnnie]

It's the  "in rows 16 inches apart" that seems excessive if one is hand-weeding.

Not if you grow proper parsnips. I believe parsnips taste better if they are bigger.

"Proper parsnips" Lol.  sounds so British :D  OK,  I'll try wider rows than hoped. Or maybe try a scientific approach doing both.

[manicscousers]

ours are pre-chitted, put into a raised bed so don't need much weeding or thinning so we take a few when half grown and leave the others to grow on  :)

[theothermarg]

Of course by proper parsnipd I spect you mean the ones the frost has got at
and if they are left at 3" apart you will end up with multi rooted monsters(guess how I know) ;D
marg

[GrannieAnnie]

ours are pre-chitted, put into a raised bed so don't need much weeding or thinning so we take a few when half grown and leave the others to grow on  :)

Have you planted the chitted ones yet this year? 
Its there anything besides interplanting with lettuce that you do?

[manicscousers]

yep, planted under fleece in the raised bed two weeks ago, they're showing above ground now and look good..I'm going to start the second ones this week  :)

[silverbirch]

I station sow 3 seeds about 6" apart, with about 1' between the rows.    It seems to work.

[GrannieAnnie]

yep, planted under fleece in the raised bed two weeks ago, they're showing above ground now and look good..I'm going to start the second ones this week  :)

Way to go!

We had snow forecasted and supposed to be below freezing tonight again so I've been reluctant to put the tender little sprouted seeds out...maybe I'd better get a move on!

[Suzanne]

I have always done mine in raised beds and therefore about 9 inches spacing all around.  ;D

[OllieC]

It doesn't really matter if they're too close - you just get square, smaller ones!

[manicscousers]

this was last years  ;D

[star]

What are your white cloche supports made from Manics?