Gladiator F1 Parsnips Vegetables Seeds - West Coast Seeds

PRODUCT DETAILS

We like this parsnip for its quick germination and early growth; it is bigger and more vigorous right from the beginning. This variety is wide at the top with a short body. It is tender and delicious even to the largest sizes, with no core. Gladiator parsnip seeds are canker resistant. Our customer Louella is shown holding a truly enormous specimen of Gladiator. She attributes its massive size to her husband's rich compost blend. In rich, fluffy soil, these parsnips can really get huge. Parsnips store well for winter use. Winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Take caution during sunny weather: touching the plant may cause skin burns.

Matures in 110 days. Hybrid seeds

• Sweet nutty flavour
• Smooth skinned, white, tapered roots
• Canker resistant
• Hybrid seeds
• Matures in 110 days

All About Gladiator

Latin

Pastinaca sativaFamily: Apiaceae

Difficulty Easy

We Recommend:

Gladiator (PN581). This hybrid parsnip was bred to be fast-growing, uniform, and large – and we’ve seen some HUGE ones. At any size it has very appealing, mild flavour and it’s firm without being woody.

Timing

Direct sow from the last frost date to mid-summer Optimal soil temperature for germination: 10-25°C (50-75°F). Seeds take 14-21 days to germinate.

Starting

Sow seeds 5mm-1cm (¼-½”) deep. Cover seeds with compost and/or put row cover over planting area to shade the soil and conserve moisture. Thin to 7-10 cm (3-4″) apart in rows 45-60cm (18-24″) apart.

Days to Maturity:

From direct sowing.

Growing

Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. Prepare ground as for carrots, digging deeply to loosen soil prior to planting For even longer parsnips, you can dig or form holes 60cm (24″) deep. Weed carefully and keep watered. Contact with parsnip leaves causes a rash in some people, so harvest and weed with long sleeves and gloves.

Harvest

The flavour of parsnips is best after a couple of good frosts. Dig parsnips from late summer into the winter as needed. Protect from freezing in the soil with a thick straw mulch if it is a cold winter. Parsnips keep better in well-drained soil. The average family will be well supplied with a 6m (20′) row.

Seed Info

In optimal conditions at least 60% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 1 year. Per 100′ row: 440 seeds, per acre: 128M seeds.

Diseases & Pests

Carrot rust fly maggots may injure the roots of parsnips. The most reliable control is floating row cover. Practice crop rotation to prevent soil-borne disease.