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It was huge! The root measured 18", and the entire plant was 52" long....but what a disappointment!
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The entire root was split and completely unusable.
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Two smaller ones came out more easily, but not all was well with them either.
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I scrubbed some of them off, but you can still see many knots all over the roots. Nematodes. The same thing that ravishes so many of my carrots is going to ruin my parsnip crop. And I was so looking forward to fall and winter parsnips.
I hate those nematodes too. They started in my soil sadly. At least without the tomatoes I don't have a horrible problem anymore. I swear the tomatoes breed them and whatever you plant there next had better be something that the nematodes don't like. I remember a book called Carrots Love Tomatoes. I'm sure it is because if you plant your carrots near your tomatoes those nematodes will just ignore the carrots and make a beeline for the tomatoes.
ReplyDeleteIt's supposed to help to plant carrots after corn, too. I haven't pulled enough of them yet to see if it helped or not, and it wouldn't really prove anything because I've grown perfectly lovely carrots in some areas of the garden.
DeleteI read that to get rid of nematodes plant mustard. I am going to try it this year because I have them in a few of my beds and some pots. Since they are in the pots they had to have come from the soil I purchased. Very irritating. I have also read that you can solarize the soil to get rid of them. Think I will try that also.
ReplyDeletePeggi, I just might try solarizing a couple of beds that I have free right now, and planting my carrots in them next year. It won't hurt, and it just might help! It's still really hot here, so I should get at least 3-4 weeks of high enough temps for solarization.
DeletePeggi, tonight I staked out one bed and layered composted manure/composted leaves/more composted manure. I built it up pretty high. Once it's well watered, I'll get the plastic on it. If I don't get good carrots from that bed next year, it won't be for lack of trying!
DeleteSo much garden space and time devoted to parsnips too. I hope you can find some good ones in there.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too, Rachel. I have a few planted behind the shed that might have a chance. I doubt the ones along the weedy fence line will do much, they have to compete with the neighbor's weeds.
DeleteOh, no! Sorry about your parsnips! I grew a few one year but don't grow them now. Nancy
ReplyDeleteNancy, I grew them about 4 years ago, but they take up so much space I didn't grow them again. Now that I have a larger garden, I was anxious to give them another try.
DeleteHm, so that's what nematode damage looks like. I didn't know, but it seems likely I have them. There's not much I don't have, lol! I have so many plant diseases and pests I really should try solarizing too, but unfortunately we never have much heat when I have empty spaces.
ReplyDeleteNutmeg, that's always been my problem. The beds are usually full until it freezes, but with the doubled space this year, I have the entire corn plot that can be solarized right now for next year. I'm not sure how much of it I can get done, as I want to lay out and amend all new beds heavily with composted leaves/manure. It depends on how much punishment my old body will take!
DeleteBah! I never knew about nematodes. I grow a lot of tomatoes too, but not parsnips. Don't you really hate it when your harvest is lost to bugs. I will watch out for nematodes now. thanks for the info!
ReplyDeleteoops.... I've eaten carrots from my garden that looked like that. hmmm...
ReplyDeleteI eat them too, Tammy. They're just ugly, they won't kill ya ;-)
DeleteOh, good! Phew... I have to admit after reading your post I had to look it up to see if it was safe to eat. It said something about ringworms! oh, my....
DeleteAlthough, my grandpa and I would eat root veggies right there in the garden, and to my knowledge... neither of us ever got sick or ringworms. :)
btw... I looked for a check box to notify me of follow-up comments. But I don't see one. Guess, I'll just have to check back. Besides, I really enjoy reading your posts (love your humor) and can't wait to explore some more. Have a great evening Granny!
Tammy, I always scrub my root veggies well before eating them. There's just something about veggies grown in cow poop....LOL!
DeleteI had to double check, but right under this box, to the right, there is a "subscribe by email" link.
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