A space to share your parsnips growing season. Plant some seeds, see what comes up. Share photos and observations for the whole season.
I misplaced my GTS seed after it was received…I have to wait until November 2025 to plant in Arizona. Who has some seeds to plant?
My parsnips have kind of naturalized around my garden- just out in the grass. So, there are just always parsnips there.
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Thats a good patch of parsnips. Do you know what the origin was of the seed?
Mostly Lancer with some Turga and Kral with some of the Kral type coming from Joseph’s line.
https://opensourceplantbreeding.org/forum/index.php/topic,326.msg7070.html#msg7070
Then I ran short on time and energy and decided to focus on tomatoes and its been left to its own devices for a few generations.
The Lancer started about 2011 and so had a head start on the other genetics.
Missing variety out there in the world maybe is the only OSSI parsnip. https://osseeds.org/ossi_variety/primal-beauty/
I wonder if it still exists?
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Same on this side of the pond, it naturalized despite me taking most seeds for sharing, mostly a very regular package of parsnips and i keep adding new ones from wherever i happen to come across since five years.
It’s a slow landrace style.
I try to steer it towards a big tuber variety, i check at the base of the stem at the same time as i try to let the most vigorous plants go to seed. And save of those. Whenever i see tiny plants pop up during the season i spread those vigorous plant seeds out, to steer the population in the direction of a big vigorous landrace.
I can’t stop smaller ones getting one yearly and spreading, so again i actively spread bigger ones.
I hope to one day use it as a plant that really naturalizes into new plots we decide to turn into edible forests, that with a bit of help of me cutting grass/wild herb patches or shading out or mulching can help leave plugs in the soil, to just rot away after dieback, instead of tilling. While at the same time providing emergency food, in case of systematic disruptions.
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So far it looks like parsnips can grow unatended once established and outside seed can be added to the patch each season. @WilliamGrowsTomatoes and @Hugo have parsnips plots that reseed themselves. They grow well and they say to be looking for large and triangular roots. Has anyone looked into the GRIN database yet for parsnips? Where else would we look for seed?
Is root size the determining factor for developing the landrance, or its ability to grow unattended…what should we focus on while growing?
Varieties to start with are:
GTS mix
Turga
Kral
Lancer
From OSSI, “Primal Beauty”
Ive grown parsnip one season before and didnt await for seed. The roots have a good sweet flavor and are good in stews or roasted root vegetable salad.
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Besides Primal Beauty from OSSI where else could we find seed to start a grex with?
Do you store them once harvested, or just pull them as you need them for a recipe? Is flavor a determining factor, or does it stay consistent? Going forward what should we consider for growing parsnips? Is there another trait to work on after size of the root?
Pull them when i need them.
I haven’t noticed much difference in taste.
I wouldn’t know what to select for because it differs a lot. I think people on clay would want deep penetrating roots for humus plugs. Me i want big fat roots a bit on the surface, not split in two thin ones..
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