Why have my parsnips got so many roots?

Question

The parsnips looked lovely when they were in full leaf, but now I come to dig them up, and they have loads of roots. Not a single pointed root like it showed on the packet.
What did I do wrong?
The chap at the garden centre said I need to plant them in a long thin cone of sand to make them grow into that shape, but it sounds like a lot of fuss to me.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

If the soil is rocky or hard such as clay the parsnip cannot put down a straight tap root and will split into loads of roots as yours have done. It's the same with carrots. They need sandy soil to grow down into as the chap at the garden centre told you. Either that or you grow short rooted varieties.

Girlie Electrics · Answer

They grow with single tap roots ONLY when in stone-free soil.

So either grow in sand or learn to love deformed parsnips

frank · Answer

You may have small rocks that interfere with the roots when they are small making them split, and grow in different directions.

robert C · Answer

like carrots they need good friable soil, no stones or hard clumps as they intend to divide and grow around the interference .

Why have my parsnips got so many roots?

4 Answers