root veg and compost

[aquilegia]

It suddenly occured to me yesterday that I've already used up the room I'd allocated for my root veg.

I had one already dug bed, that was manured last spring, that was going to be my roots and alliums bed. Trouble is, it's already full of alliums and I've not started on the roots yet.

Can I squeeze in a few small parsnips, carrots and beetroot between the rows of shallots and garlic without inhibiting both their growth (the alliums are spaced at approximately 8-9inches)?

My other option is to sow the roots into newly dug and newly composted ground. I know they don't like manure, but will they be alright if I dig in well rotted garden compost? The soil is heavy clay, so I can't possibly sow them into it neat.

I don't want to try them in large pots as I did that last year and the harvest was attrocious.

[aquilegia]

[derbex]

Aqui,

I put my parsnips into newly dug & manured ground last year, they're as lond as your arm and about as thick, so I'd say go for it. They went straight through the dug and manured soil and down into the sticky yellow clay beneath.

Jeremy

[Apple Dumpling]

Derbex - you got off lighter than I did. I ran out of space as well last year, and planted parsnips on manured ground. The result was multi-legged parsnips. My first year of growing them, so I was delighted that they germinated because I had heard they could be tricky. But their unique shape means that they're a pain to prepare. Yummy though. ::)

[Mrs Ava]

hhhmmm....you could probably get away with the parsnips between the onions as they take long time to germinate and will grow slowely and steadily downwards whilst your onions grow outwards.  You must be careful not to damage the shallow roots of the onions as I believe this can cause them to bolt.  I guess you will have pulled the onions long before the parnsips will be ready, but mine made huge amounts of foliage, so I think that maybe your only problem.  I guess the carrots would be okay also, and doesn't bob flowerpoo say that onions put off carrot fly?  ;D

[diver]

Ive just got my onion sets and will be putting them in next week or so, does this mean, that if I put them a little further apart than I intended ,I can put parsnips in between. I have already sown the parsip seed last wek but they have not come up yet. Somebody on our allotments gave me 4 blackcurrent bushes and they have gone where the carrots and parsnips were to go so I am also stuck for space...wish I had a second plot, but I suspect I'd have the same problem

[Mothy]

Is it ok to put onion sets in now Diver? Are they affected by frost?

Just wondered!
TimJ

[Charlotte Sometimes]

bob flowerpoo

*snigger*...... you speak of the plaited-one, lolol

I might be well off the mark here, but if you had already mulched/manured/composted, could you dig in something bland e.g. coir or sand to dilute it???  I know carrots like quite a fine stone-free soil, so it would also improve the texture too.  Is this the insane rambling of a newbie and a completely silly idea?

[Charlotte Sometimes]

*sblack person*...... you speak of the plaited-one, lolol

Erm, that was meant to be sn1gger, btw!   :o

[Mimi]

Speaking of the 'plaited one'  wouldnt you just love to get the secetaurs to that plait and have a good prune ;D... Where is Jim will fix it these days. ;)

[gavin]

Oi!

Speaking of the 'plaited one'  wouldnt you just love to get the secetaurs to that plait and have a good prune

You're as bad as my own kids! :)  Though my head of hair doesn't quite match the Bob's.  Ah - but I know why he's got it plaited --- and believe me, it is VERY wise :) :) :)   

All best (and keep the secateurs away from my mane) - Gavin

[Doris_Pinks]

OK Gavin, fess up.....why???!!  My daughter plaits hers so she has lovely ripples when she unties it in the morning! Is this the reason?? ;D  DP

[gavin]

What does a bee do when it flies into my matted locks?  Panic.  What do I do? 
PANIC . . . PANIC . . .  PANIC! - and run off down the site, flailing head, hair, arms, legs, whatever, wildly.

This does not calm the bee.

You'd think it might have more sense, but it carries on buzzing furiously. ??? First time it touches my face or neck, and  - ouch, another sting.

Current score - bees 7; me 1.

Yup - it's a hair-cut or a plait for me :)  - all best, Gavin