[alan/gill]

i have put lots of parsnip seeds in various parts of my allotment and have used different types of seeds but very few have come through,i did start some off in seed trays and they seem to be doing ok,cant understand why im having a bad season with my favorite veg

[JayG]

When did you sow them?

They are notoriously reluctant germinators in cold conditions, and I've never had them germinate outdoors in less than 3-4 weeks even when the soil has warmed up a little.

[DD.]

Was it fresh seed?

[3759allen]

all my parsnips are taking ages to germinate and come through, the weeds seem to grow quicker than the parsnip. i'm sure this doesn't help them, especially if i get carried away removing the weeds and take the small seedlings too. DOH.

[viettaclark]

I usually have no probs with parsnips. Bung the seed in the bed and although they take ages they get there eventually and the crop is good.
This year I sowed in March then we had that cold spell so I gave them another 7/8 weeks and sowed again (different seed) when there was no show.
I finally gave up again at the week-end and planted out my Tuscan kale. Whilst digging I came across several parsnip seed and they looked just the same. So either they're dead or they'll come up in the kale bed and it's much too late for them now.......
You win some you lose some.......and some are amazing like my soft fruit!

[solway cropper]

i have put lots of parsnip seeds in various parts of my allotment and have used different types of seeds but very few have come through,i did start some off in seed trays and they seem to be doing ok,cant understand why im having a bad season with my favorite veg

They don't take kindly to being transplanted so you might have a problem with the ones in seed trays. And if they're still in seed trays there's no way you'll get anything from them now. The top growth on my parsnips is getting on for 18 inches high so I'm hopeful of a decent crop.