[fatbelly]

This year I intend to wait until mid April before I sow my Snips, on account of last year I sowed mid March and only 50% germinated.

So I am hoping the extra soil warmth will help. Am I correct in this do Parsnips prefer a warmish soil to get going?

Thanks FB

[Aunt Sally]

Parsnips are often a bit iffy for germination.   I generally sow them in piches along the row.

[Salmo]

The soil is getting warm now. I will probably be tempted to sow at the weekend.

Either sow a pinch at the spacing you want and then thin to one plant or do as I do and use the whole packet of seed along the row and thin them out. You might as well use them as the seed does not germinate well the second year if kept.

If the drill is dry dribble water with a can along the furrow bottom, pat the seed gently into the wet soil, pull dry soil over and tamp down to get good seed/soil contact.

When it is drying March winds I like to sow in the evening so that the seed has time to take up moisture overnight. It is often calm then and parsnip seed easily blows away if it is windy

Add just a few radish seeds along the row. These come up first and mark the row. It is also a bonus crop.

[LeeR]

I always make a big cone shaped hole with a dibber at stations about 20cm apart, fill it up with compost and sow 3 or 4 seeds on top of that before dusting with more compost.  It's worked well for me in the last few years as it ensures that the parsnips will not hit any stones when growing.  Just thin the seedlings when necessary.

[Yorkie]

I usually wait until early April; it's due to get colder by the weekend although remaining dry, I think.  Check your long-range forecast and be sure to water properly if we don't get any rain over the next couple of weeks.