[Thephoenix572]

At present got some seeds on wet tissue in a container on top of the boiler, question is when do you know when they are ready for sowing?

[Aunt Sally]

When they have germinated the will have a tiny root coming out of them. 

Don't let it get too big before putting them in the ground or they could get damaged in the process.

[Weston grower]

They will start to put out a small shoot.

As AS says they are very delicate at this stage so be careful. I tried doing them this way but have got better results from sowing direct to ground. You have to be patient hough - they take ages to show.

Regards, WG

[fatbelly]

Has anyone direct sowed their Parsnips yet?
I was thinking of hanging back until say 20th April ish, but would be interested in what others think.

[rowan57]

Planning to get mine in but under fleece today. Otherwise they won't get planted until early May for me.

[Totty]

Got some in loo rolls for the garden not germinated yet, and some in Very Deep bore holes up an running in the greenhouse.

Totty

[richy]

Putting mine in on thursday, direct sown every time for me.

[Salmo]

Has anyone direct sowed their Parsnips yet?
I was thinking of hanging back until say 20th April ish, but would be interested in what others think.

I sowed mine yesterday. 5/6 seeds per station every 4 inches along the row. Radishes thinly sprinkled along the row . The radishes will come up first and mark the row, they are also a bonus crop.

If they fail I will redrill, but with the weather forecast for warmer and rain I hope that at least 1 parsnip will germinate at each station.

[Tom Hill]

Has anyone direct sowed their Parsnips yet?
I was thinking of hanging back until say 20th April ish, but would be interested in what others think.

From my Diary of March 2nd. Sowed Parsnip White King and covered with cut down plastic water bottles.
They are now through and looking very healthy.

[JayG]

Has anyone direct sowed their Parsnips yet?
I was thinking of hanging back until say 20th April ish, but would be interested in what others think.

As it happens that's exactly the date I sowed mine direct last year, and they started to show in 4 weeks. Looking at a similar date this year, although of course the soil has got a bit further to go than last when it comes to warming up.