Thompson & Morgan Parsnip White Gem Seeds

Promise a delicious harvest, offering mid-length roots with smooth pale skin and a sweet flavour that's perfect for roasting or winter dinners. You'll love how easily they grow in a variety of soils, with great resistance to canker and suitability for kitchen gardens. Sow directly outdoors and enjoy strong, hardy plants that thrive in sun or semi-shade, reaching up to 45cm in height and 30cm in spread. Each packet contains 300 seeds, letting you enjoy fresh parsnips from late autumn through to January, or store the roots for up to four months for extended use. How to grow: Direct sow parsnip seeds outdoors from mid spring to early summer, as soon as the ground is workable. Avoid sowing in cold or wet soils. Grow parsnips in a sunny position in stone-free, well prepared ground that has been deeply cultivated. Parsnips prefer a fertile, light, well drained soil. Sow parsnip seeds thinly at a depth of 2cm ( 3/4in) in drills 30cm (12") apart. Germination is slow and may take up to 28 days. When large enough to handle, thin out the seedlings within each row to 7cm (3in) apart or 10cm (4") apart if larger roots are required. Water well to encourage germination. Once germinated, parsnips should be watered only when necessary to keep the soil moist. Keep beds weed free at all times. Harvest parsnips from late autumn through to January, as and when required. However, their flavour will be improved if they are left in the ground until exposed to frost. Alternatively lift and store parsnips in boxes of barely moist soil, peat or sand, and store in a cool place. Roots can be stored like this for up to four months. Loosen the soil around the roots with a fork before lifting them to avoid damaging the roots.