Parsnips

[Teej]

I've managed to find a bit more room in my garden so I've decided to try & give Leeks & Parsnips a go.  May be a bit late but seeing as I've got the room, why not!
I've never grown either before & just wanted a bit of Parsnip advice from you experts please!  The area I'm thinking about putting them has already had chicken pellets put down & I know you're not supposed to manure for Parsnips.  If I dig a trench (how deep?) & fill with compost will that be ok to grown them in?  I'll then use the manured soil elsewhere (poss for earthing up the leeks?).
I've got some seeds on kitchen paper inside to see if they chit & 3 each in homemade newspaper rolls in the greenhouse to see if i get any that way.  If any do actually germinate then hopefully the newspaper rolls can just be planted out whole, once I've thinned to 1 seedling in each, to avoid root disturbance.
Does all that sound feasible?
I know it's not very well planned but it's a shame to waste the extra room I've found!
Ta v much!

[Teej]

[saddad]

Give it a go... I'd direct sow some Parsnips now...  :)

[Bjerreby]

Give it a go... I'd direct sow some Parsnips now...  :)

I think I'll sow parsnips where my carrots failed! I can at least get parsnips to grow.

[saddad]

give my carrot method a try... but watch out for slugs... I can't get parsnips up this year!! had about 200 last year...  :-[

[Bjerreby]

give my carrot method a try... but watch out for slugs... I can't get parsnips up this year!! had about 200 last year...  :-[

I tell you what saddad, I am sure your method works so I'll give it a go in half the bed, and sow White Gem in the rest. If I make a mess of it, at least I'll get some parsnips!

[Teej]

Thank you!  You've inspired me & (subject to rain!) next weekend I'll sort out my trench, then direct sow some Parsnips AND Carrots!  I'm absolutely RUBBISH with carrots & nothing I try works.  I've got the annual sowing-in-a-pot done but I don't hold out much hope!
So, will try Carrots in the ground, with some Parsnips & see how I go.  I've also got my other 'snips chitting & in tubes so hopefully I'll get 1 or 2 out of that lot!
Thanks for the advice & inspiration!  (Just got to find another patch to grow my Leeks now that my "spare" ground will have to take both Carrots & 'snips - I suppose commandeering more of the flower beds saves on buying bedding plants!)
;D