parsnips growing long and narrow

[tweacle]

Hi there

I have parsnips that are growing long and stringy. Can anyone help why this is happening.

Thanks

[DavidT]

A few questions, when were they sown? Have they been thinned out and what is the soil like? It sounds to me as is if the soil is very poor with a very low nutrient content.

[tweacle]

Hi there

no they were not thinned out. The soil is new soil this year.

[DavidT]

Parsnips, like all rootcrops, MUST be thinned out. Don`t just sow them in a row, Sow 3 or 4 seeds every 4 inches. Thin these out to one seedling per station once the seed leaves have formed. Finally take every other plant out when they are big enough to use as baby parsnips, leaving the others to grow to maturity.