Sowing parsnip, or meadow, or ordinary (Pastinaca sativa) is a perennial herb, a species of the Parsnip genus of the Umbrella family. Parsnip is an extraordinary vegetable perennial with a fragrant and tasty white fruit, very similar to ordinary carrots. The homeland of this unusual vegetable is considered to be the Mediterranean.
Parsnip is very useful, it contains many useful substances, vitamins, macro- and microelements. minerals necessary for the normal development of the human body. It is about this vegetable that will be discussed in more detail in this article. About the rules of growing and caring for parsnips. How and when to harvest, store the crop and what it can be used for.
Description of the vegetable parsnip
Parsnip stalks can reach a height of one and a half meters. They are rough to the touch, faceted and grooved in shape, somewhat reminiscent of carrot tops. Parsnip leaves are odd-pinnate, oval in shape. Root crops are very similar in appearance to carrots, elongated and sometimes more rounded. The color of the fruit can be white, yellow-white and even pale cream. The plant will bloom in the second year after planting. Flowers grow in bunches of five or more flowers, have a yellow color.
Growing parsnips from seeds
Sowing seeds
It is best to plant seeds in seedlings first, rather than directly in open ground. Although parsnips have excellent cold resistance, due to the high content of essential oils in the seeds, they germinate very poorly and take a long time. Before planting, the seeds must be soaked for a day in warm water, the main thing is to ensure that the water always remains warm, for this it is necessary to change it in time. Then the seeds should be treated with special agents to stimulate growth. To plant parsnips, you need to prepare the soil with the addition of peat. You can also use soil specially designed for sowing seeds.
It is not worth deepening the seeds much during planting, it is enough just to sprinkle them on top with a thin layer of soil. After planting, water the soil abundantly and cover the pots tightly with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect.
Seedling parsnip
During the period of growing seedlings, it is necessary to air the pots daily for about 10-15 minutes, removing the plastic wrap. Parsnip seeds have poor germination, so the first shoots can only be seen after two weeks, or even more. As soon as shoots appear, the film should be removed and the pots should be placed closer to sunlight. Parsnips are very light-loving, so you will have to organize additional lighting for seedlings so that daylight hours last at least 14 hours. Watering should be abundant and regular so that the topsoil does not get dry.But it is not worthwhile to allow waterlogging of the soil and stagnation of water, as this can lead to decay of the roots and the death of the entire plant.
Seedling picking
In order to plant strong and strong seedlings in open ground, it is imperative to carry out a pick. To do this, you should carefully pinch the weaker seedlings almost at the very root and leave the strongest of them. Two weeks before planting seedlings in open ground, you need to gradually start not preparing. To do this, take the seedling pots outside daily, gradually increasing the time spent in the fresh air.
Planting parsnips outdoors
It is necessary to plant seedlings in open ground in mid-May, when the seedlings will be a month old. In May, as a rule, there are no frosts, and the soil has warmed up enough.
Before planting your parsnips, find a suitable spot for them. It is best to plant the plant in a sunny part of the garden. As for the soil, parsnips absolutely do not tolerate sour soil! Planting parsnips after carrots, celery and parsley is not worth it, this can lead to infection with common diseases and insect attacks. The most suitable precursors for parsnips are potatoes, onions, glasses, cabbage.
Before planting seedlings, it is imperative to add fertilizer to the soil. Rotted manure and compost are excellent organic fertilizers. After applying top dressing, you should thoroughly pump the soil and dig holes at a distance of 15 cm from each other. It is necessary to plant seedlings together with the peat soil in which it grew. After planting, water the soil abundantly.
Planting parsnips in the winter. The most suitable time for planting seeds in the winter is September-October. The soil must be prepared in advance, preferably in spring. This planting is good because the parsnip with this method rises much better. In the spring, when shoots appear, it is necessary to pinch, which was mentioned above.
Caring for parsnips
Parsnips do not need any special care and are particularly unpretentious. Caring for him includes: timely watering, loosening the soil, fertilizing and removing weeds.
Watering
Parsnip is a moisture-loving plant. He needs regular and abundant watering, but it is not worthwhile to allow the soil to become overmoistened, and even more so to stagnate moisture, this can lead to the death of the plant. Due to the lack of moisture, the fruits will be small, less tasty and not juicy. After each watering, be sure to carefully loosen the soil so as not to damage the plant's root system. Weeds should be removed as needed. But it should be remembered that in the heat, parsnips release a poisonous substance, its contact with the skin can cause burns, so you need to work with the flower in cloudy weather or after sunset, and be sure to use gloves.
Top dressing and fertilizers
During the season, it is necessary to apply top dressing at least three times. Rotten manure, compost solution and wood ash can be used as organic fertilizers. Special balanced mineral fertilizers are also excellent. During the period of active growth, it is necessary to apply fertilizer with a high nitrogen content. In the middle of summer, it is necessary to apply fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus. All dressings should be applied exclusively in liquid form and strictly under the root, without getting on the leaves.
Cleaning and storage of parsnips
It is necessary to harvest parsnips in the fall, when the leaves of the plant begin to dry out. It should be remembered that the contact of parsnip leaves with the skin can cause burns, so cleaning must be done with gloves. You need to dig in the fruits of the parsnip with a pitchfork and with extreme care so as not to damage the root crop. You need to store parsnips in a box with sand at a temperature of 0 to 2 degrees with relatively high humidity.
Diseases and pests
Parsnips are affected by the same diseases as other crops from the celery family. Black rot, white and gray rot, septoria, cercosporosis and wet bacterial rot. In order not to fight diseases, it is best to prevent their appearance. All rules for the care and cultivation of parsnips must be followed. Monitor watering, remove weeds in time, apply fertilizers. If the plant does get sick, then it is necessary to immediately start treating it; for this, the diseased plant should be treated with a solution of special fungicides that will help get rid of the disease.
As for pests, parsnips are most often attacked: aphids, caraway moths, field bugs and striped shield bugs. It is imperative and immediate to fight the invasion of insects, they are carriers of diseases dangerous to the plant. In order to get rid of pests, it is necessary to thoroughly spray the plant with a special solution, which is sold in any store for summer residents.
Parsnip properties
Parsnip is very useful; it contains many useful substances, vitamins, micro- and microelements that are necessary for the human body. The carbohydrates contained in parsnips are highly digestible. A large amount of potassium in root crops significantly improves blood circulation, improves digestion and has a positive effect on the state of the nervous system.
Parsnips can be eaten by people with diabetes. Also, the dark fruits of parsnips perfectly relieve hepatic and renal colic. Parsnip strengthens blood vessels well, this allows you to fight cardiovascular diseases. The roots of this vegetable are excellent for raising the appetite and stimulating sexual activity.
Crushed parsnips are added to preparations for people who suffer from vitiligo disease, as well as to vasodilators, drugs for insomnia and stress.
Contraindications
Preparations with content should not be taken by those who have an intolerance to this vegetable or allergies. It is also contraindicated for people who suffer from photodermatosis. This vegetable is also contraindicated for small children.
Types and varieties of parsnips
- Round - This is one of the early ripening varieties. The fruits are round and gray-white in color. The pulp has a strong smell.
- Chef - early ripening variety. The fruits are round and flattened at the base, light cream in color and medium in size.
- White stork - an early variety of parsnips. Fruits are round, white in color with tasty and aromatic pulp. Differs in a high level of storage.
- Delicacy - Root crops are round, large and rather long. The pulp is very tasty and aromatic. This variety keeps well.
There are more than 10 varieties and types of parsnips, which, like the ones listed above, are often grown by summer residents and have a high yield level, are excellently stored and no less tasty.
