[katiekate]

Hi all,

Anyone got tips or advice for getting parsnip seeds to germinate? Last year sowed direct in the ground and only managed about 4!!! Should I try starting indoors in loo roll, or do they prefer the cold?

Many parsnippy thanks!

[Aidy]

My favoured method is pre sprutting them, pu them into a tupperware tube, damp kitchen papper, lay them out, cover with a piece of tissue paper (dry) and pop into a warm place, after a week or so start checking for the sprut to appear, once most have appeared then sow into you row at the correct spacing, pretty much all that have sprutted will come up.

[JayG]

Parsnip seed has a very short shelf life so you must use fresh seed.

It is very slow to germinate and does not like the very cold conditions often present when sown early outdoors; mine were sown direct on 29th March and have not shown yet but I won't start worrying for another week!

Lots if people pre-germinate and start them off indoors, just don't overdo the heat and don't let the roots get to the bottom of the pot or tube before planting out or they are likely to fork.

[viettaclark]

That saying JayG I regularly use open parsnip seed but it's usually still more or less in date......no probs.

[katiekate]

Thanks all, I have new seeds this year so shall try sowing direct and germinating in a tub!

[JayG]

Thanks all, I have new seeds this year so shall try sowing direct and germinating in a tub!

How very wise (not to mention diplomatic!) 

[debih]

I tried germinating them in a tub and absolutely nothing has happened.      I started them off about 3 weeks ago and they look no different.

So I am going to get the trusty old toilet rolls out, put them in a big tray, fill them with compost, put a seed in each and bung them in the polytunnel.  I used my new pack of seeds but found an old pack today (although still in date) so will try them out.

[fatbelly]

In my rotation I have space for my Snips but it is an area that has been Limed a few months ago.

Will Lime be a problem for Parsnips do you know.

Regards FB

[Pompey Spud]

Here's what I do and it never fails.

Always sow direct in the 2nd/3rd week of April with fresh seed.

Bore a hole with the end of my hoe to a depth of about 2 feet making a cone shape. Fill with compost making sure there's no air pockets. Station sow seeds 8/10inches apart. Cloche with mini poly tunnel or fleece.

Keep coveed when you have a good germination rate and leave the 2 strongest at each station than finally leave to one.

It's a bit fussy but always works with great Parsnips to show.

[rowlandwells]

i've set my parsnips student [Kings] in paper pots 2 per station they have germinated well
going to pinch out the weakest plant to 1 plant then make a hole in the ground about 9 inches fill it with a mixture of peat and sharp sand because my ground is a bit on the heavy side Q, will the peat and sand mixture be suitable as this is the first time i have tried this method 

any comments most welcome 

[Growster...]

I've gone back to the old method of sowing a few seeds in a bunch every 6".

They're just through in the last couple of days, and when I'm certain they're happy, I'll thin out to just a couple per station, then down to one.

It worked last time...

[Salmo]

Parsnips take longer to come through than carrots. I sowed both on 21st March, the carrots have been through for a week, the parsnips started appearingthis week. That is in warm conditions so most years add another week.

Choose a day with no wind.
Draw out a furrow with the edge of a hoe.
Trickle water along the bottom.
Put 3/4 seeds together at 6 inch stations.
Put 2/3 radish seeds between each station when sowing. These will come up quickly and mark the row so that you can hoe early. Also a bonus crop of radish.
Single each station to 2 plants and then to a single one.

[cooperman]

My favoured method is pre sprutting them, pu them into a tupperware tube, damp kitchen papper, lay them out, cover with a piece of tissue paper (dry) and pop into a warm place, after a week or so start checking for the sprut to appear, once most have appeared then sow into you row at the correct spacing, pretty much all that have sprutted will come up.

I do as Aidy does and it never fails..... a bit fiddly

Planting direct is a bit hit and miss, you usually end with a lot of misses even with fresh seed

[plopleuk]

Do you put them in the carrot bed so the flies don't get to them?

[Salmo]

I grow them next to the carrots. An enviromesh tent covers them as well as the carrots but when the parsnips and carrots get bigger the tent is re-organised to cover the carrots only.