Hints & Tips

Watering

You don't have to be a slave to the watering can when you grow veg.
Seeds, seedlings and transplanted plants need watering, but once they start to grow, lay off the watering and let nature do the rest. This encourages deeper roots and stronger plants.

Sowing parsnip seeds

Spring is a good time to sow parsnips. They can be tricky to grow, but there are a few cunning dodges that you can use.
Prepare a shallow drill in the soil, about 20mm deep, and sow three or four seeds every 10-12cm - that way, if one or two fail to germinate, you won't have any empty spaces along the row.
Germination takes up to a month, and it's a good idea to sow a quick-growing crop like lettuce or radishes in among the parsnip seeds. This is not only a good use of space, but helps to mark out where your parsnips are coming up.

If you have any good hints or tips that you'd like to share just email them in the usual way.