Medwyn Williams sows parsnip seed now for the shows
There are many good varieties available if you want long ones for the shows
t’s the time of year for sowing my parsnips, although I already have some a few inches tall for the Chelsea Flower Show. But the parsnips for my regular display at Malvern will be grown outdoors in my large plastic pipes. I have 20 of these pipes that are about 38cm (1¼ft) in diameter and 1.2m (4ft). They’re sitting on a bed of sand 60cm (2ft) above ground level, which should yield some decent specimens.
The National Championships of the National Vegetable Society (NVS) are very early this year, from July 30 to August 1, hosted by the Southern Branch as part of the New Forest Show. Even though the show is early I’m sure the quality will still be superb as the members show off their skills staging astonishing vegetables of the highest quality.
When I discuss parsnips I recollect what one of the best parsnip growers said to me. Jack Arrowsmith told me he liked to sow parsnips direct in to the bore holes on or around February 7.
My variety for Chelsea this year is a brand new one for trial and comes directly from the breeder. It claims to be the whitest parsnip yet that carries its weight evenly down its length. I’ll have to see how it performs first before I put my eggs all in the one proverbial basket. TZ9045, now named as ‘Viking’, was a good one for me, with a good white colour carrying plenty of weight and came fourth in the National last year.
However, there are other excellent varieties out there and I know that one of the best growers, John Branham, still grows ‘Gladiator’ to a very high standard indeed. If you’re having a go, why not try ‘Panorama’ that certainly carries its weight well down, or ‘Victor’, which won the National when first introduced. Last year the National at Harrogate was won by Jim Dunnett with a superb set of ‘Countess’. So you have plenty to choose from.
Why not follow me on Twitter throughout the season as I grow vegetables for my display at Malvern – @medwynsofangles.