Parsnips - cardboard tube method

I'm starting my parsnip seed off today, indoors. They'll then be moved into cardboard tubes to grow on, before planting out. As there's often discussion about this method, I thought this year I'd share it on this thread, and then anyone who's interested can follow it.

The main reason I use this method is that my soil often goes from cold and wet to hot and dusty very quickly, and I find germination erratic at the best of times. I don't want too many "misses" , and this method is very certain. The other benefit is that I won't have to thin the seedlings, which can attract carrot flies.

I'm using a pack of  the variety "Tender and True" from last year, which I usually find is okay;  if it isn't, I'll be able to see within a few days that the seed hasn't germinated and get a fresh pack.

I'm starting the seed off on a couple of pieces of kitchen towel, folded in half and wetted, in a cereal bowl. Sprinkle the seed on, fold the towel over the top, put a lid on, and leave on a warm windowsill.

Will be interested how you get on. We have tried parsnips in the past with little success, which is frustrating as they are delicious roasted.  I'm not sure if I read it on these  pages but I understand that parsnip seed don't keep well.

I've tried this method (admitedly with toilet rolls) but I gave up because on my soil (I'm on fairly heavy clay) the parsnips grew to the end of the tube and then stopped. So I ended with parsnips which were four inches long and four inches in diameter and full of core.
What I now do is to make a a drill and fill it with compost and then sow the parsnips into that.

6 days later, and the fresh pack of seeds has germinated already. Those that have sprouted have gone into tubes, and back on the windowsill...

As soon as the seedlings emerge I put them outside, so that's been 12 days from starting the fresh seed off on April 11th indoors to having these seedlings outdoors.  I've had to keep an eye on the watering, as the tubes can dry out quickly, inside or outdoors.

Once they're actually growing, they seem to be very reliable. I don't normally lose any at this stage, even though it might be a bit colder still than they'd like.

I found out the hard way that the key to outdoor sowing success is to delay sowing until mid May. I've done this for last ten years (after unsuccessfully faffing about with tubes etc for years prior to that) and have had a great harvest every year

I completely agree.  I sow mine at the end of the first week in May, direct into the ground. I usually get a lovely crop, ready from around mid September onwards.   Last year not so successful, not sure why, possibly seed related but the 3 years prior to that were very good.   

Ive used tube for my baby leeks they seem to be a bit slow wont do that way again, ive planted out 30 parsnip
plants so far still got two trays to go,, with my carrots im trying this way ive  seeded two trays , what i did was to sit in the garden droped a seed  then another etc [that did my eyes in] spaced out im going to wait till they are strong then in the garden is dig out the size of the tray and  then slide the whole lot out into ground and not touch the roots
ive got beetroot in the ground  some in trays, raddish among the onion sets and lettuce plants dotted about in with my lilies,,
My runner beans are chomping on the bit waiting to go out,,,but my six Himalayan poppies are getting big will have to sort them soon i think big pots so i can move them around the garden to find the right place for them,,,,

Have you covered them over,?  might be a bit colder where you are than where i am will be intresting to  hear your
findings,,,