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Post by lilolpeapicker on Jan 10, 2019 16:49:12 GMT -5
Anybody here do rutabaga and/or parsnips? I have done rutabaga with late summer plantings with a little to moderate success. Parsnips never came up. Anyone have some input with these?
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Post by tom 🕊 on Jan 10, 2019 21:03:42 GMT -5
Anyone have some input with these? I have had failures with parsnips and rutabagas too. I checked an NC planting guide and think it may be because I have been planting them too late. |
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Post by ahntjudy on Jan 11, 2019 9:29:46 GMT -5
Last year was the best beet year I've ever had and it's because they got watered more than they have ever been in beet growing history here...
They got lucky...
Last year, I know, I've said that I made a new bed and interplanted all my greens in a big 5 foot by 20 foot row, including the beets, thinking it would be fine...
What wasn't fine was efficiency...
Willy Nilly planting was fine from a standpoint of it looked ok, but that's about it...
And also, the whole thing was covered up by supported floating row covers on all sides, except for the garden fence side, so I couldn't see it much anyway so what was the point of what it looked like...
It just so happens that that side of the fenced garden, right where the new greens bed goes from side to side, is the front side and right across the small path is where I have my bench...
So, just sittin' on the bench every now and then, as it was right there, and so was the hose, the greens bed got more 'through the fence' frequent waterings than I've normally watered things like that in the past...
So the bottom line is that the beets in that bed got watered more than usual because of all the other greens...Plus I was just more generous with my watering than usual as well...
The beets were just along for the ride for the first time...And they did well...
Gee...Water the plants...What a concept... 
~~~~
I've also mentioned that last years greens bed did exceptionally well in the 'practically no pest damage' department...
I started out having it covered when I was first planting everything and wanted to give the young starts some sun shade...It's in full sun...
But things did so well under it, I just left it up...
Leaf miners and other chewers have always been a problem here but not last year...
There was practically zero damage out there last year...I was amazed at the difference...
I doubt it was a fluke so I am repeating that this year...just improving the whole thing...I have better ideas for accessibility...so we'll see...
So if your greens have a problem with leaf miners or chewers, give the row covers a try...
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Post by davidjp on Jan 11, 2019 10:56:36 GMT -5
lilolpeapicker
I've had some success with parsnips in the past. First off the seed needs to be fresh, if you're using more than a year old seed that may be part of your problem. Also its notorious for taking ages to germinate. Four weeks seemed to be common if not longer. In your climate id suggest an early spring sowing and keeping in the ground through winter. There is the suggestion that a frost helps to sweeten the roots but here in frost free California I find they taste pretty well too but they will do well through winter in the ground ready to be dug as necessary, but that was in a climate which whilst frosty the ground never froze.
One tactic I heard of and used was to station sow and alternate the stations with some radish. So put a few parsnip seeds at 6 inch intervals, then in between sow some radishes. The radishes will mark where the row should be and give you an idea of where you should be expecting to see your newly emerged parsnips. Plus in the beginning parsnips grow quite slowly so you will harvest your radish well before they become a problem.
In the end your parsnips will get quite large and theres nothing better than a roast parsnip by itself or coasted in parmesan. A parsnip roulade makes a great vegetarian main dish |
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Jan 11, 2019 13:59:11 GMT -5
In your climate id suggest an early spring sowing and keeping in the ground through winter. There is the suggestion that a frost helps to sweeten the roots A frost might but we get pretty deep frozen ground here....I would be afraid to leave them in the ground. We get frosts in October. davidjp , do you find any difference when size is tested? Taste-wise or tenderness-wise? |
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Post by davidjp on Jan 11, 2019 20:21:30 GMT -5
lilolpeapicker I don't find too much difference size wise. The do have a core and usually if they are large I quarter them. I pretty much just eat them roasted. I always like to cut them lengthwise so you have a tip that gets caramelised during roasting. I imagine a really large might get a bit tough but I haven't noticed it too much. I buy them here and I think they grow them in the desert near here and they are uniformly small in size. Not sure who buys them besides me as whenever I have americans over for dinner none of them ever seemed to have had them before.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Jan 11, 2019 22:00:22 GMT -5
davidjp, I think in part that I had a hard time keeping them moist enough for the time it takes for them to germinate. How do you handle that? What variety do you use?
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Post by davidjp on Jan 12, 2019 1:47:27 GMT -5
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Post by desertwoman on Apr 9, 2019 8:32:38 GMT -5
It's been years since I grew beets and plan to do so this year. Do you think now is a good time to direct sow? Day temps are fluctuating from mid 40's to 70 and night temps mid 20's to 40-ish. Soil is very workable and getting dry (we haven't had any precipitation for a few weeks).
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Post by tom 🕊 on Apr 9, 2019 8:52:37 GMT -5
Do you think now is a good time to direct sow? Yes. The critical thing, though, is soil temperature. |
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Post by binnylou on Apr 9, 2019 8:57:53 GMT -5
The time is near. I’m considering giving my beet seed a soak before they are planted.
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Post by desertwoman on Apr 9, 2019 9:44:06 GMT -5
critical thing, though, is soil temperature. so are beets like lettuce- if the soil is too warm the seed won't germinate? Or are you talking about soil needing to warm up enough? considering giving my beet seed a soak before they are planted. how long would you soak them for? overnight? til they sprout? Directly in water? between paper towel(or something similar)? |
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Post by binnylou on Apr 9, 2019 9:51:33 GMT -5
I’ll put them in a cup of water and soak for 12 to 24 hours. And I might use bottled water, rather than tap water.
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Post by tom 🕊 on Apr 9, 2019 10:04:37 GMT -5
Or are you talking about soil needing to warm up enough? The Old Farmer's Almanac says: "Wait until soil reaches 50°F before planting." www.almanac.com/plant/beets# |
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Post by Mumsey on Apr 10, 2019 2:52:59 GMT -5
I always plant beets, chard, carrots, kale, lettuce, onions, peas all at the same time. As soon as the ground can be worked. That would be now except I am waiting til this round of rain is over.
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