"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 8 May 2011 17:10:55 -0400, "Steve Peek" wrote:


"A Petro" wrote in message
...
Does anyone grow Hamburg rooted parsley. I get lot of leaves on top but
rarely any roots. What am I doing wrong.?


Parsnips require a long season (100-120 days). it could be you are feeding
too much nitrogen early and the plant can't stop the vegetative growth to
produce a root.


There seems to be some common-name confusion here. Looking at google
images there seems to be two different plants called "parsnip". One
has leaves like the herb parsley the other the leaves are broader and
less feathery.

The one I know as parsnip is Pastinaca sativa, which has the larger
broader leaves and the large root has a characteristic strong
aromatic, slightly sweet flavour. This is closely related to the
carrot and needs similar conditions to grow well.

See he
http://www.wiseacre-gardens.com/plan...snip_wild.html

The other with leaves like common parsley is Petroselinum crispum, (or
Petroselinum hortense) which appears to be the Hamburg rooted parsley
also called parsnip. I have not grown this one but the remark about
avoiding excessive nitrogen feeding seems right to me.

See he
http://www.gardenhoard.com/shop/seed...-rooted-seeds/

Am I seeing these images correctly? Are the two species as I
described?

David


The P. sativa looks like the parsnips I grow as well as the wild "cow
parsnip" found in the rich mountain coves. Parsley, parsnips and carrots are
all related. I never heard of the Hamburg parsnip, but the roots look like
what I grow. That's the trouble with common names, once you leave your home
area the names change and you can't be sure you are referring to the same
thing.