Dodgy seed

Anybody had any problems with new packets of seed not germinating properly? Reason I ask is because a week ago there was an article in my national newspaper that told me that Witch had done a survey into a lot of the major seed companies and found seed from some companies was very poor in germinating.I've had some problems myself with new packets. Has anybody else?

If I get a 75% hit rate I'm happy, parsnips being the exception as they are notorious for poor germination.

Which particular seed are you having a problem with?

not really. Which seed supplier did you use ?

Can't remember now garddwr it was a couple of years ago.
The worst one was the dreaded parsnips but I waited until conditions were right and not one came through. I've had similar with carrots.

Why are parsnips such a bad germinator ? Do they come in large ammounts in the packets to make up for this ?

Parsnips do have a long germination period. People (and books) all tell you to get them in early but you've got to be careful the soil has warmed up enough. A big problem in the north east where I am.

I sowed about 700 in February this year.  the ones that germinated seemed to do so in clumps.  It broke my heart to thin them out.

I'm lucky if I've got 25 to eat, and then it's always a mystery to know how big and what shape they are before you dig them up

odd this, because the only thing i seem to be able to grow at the minute with any success is parsnips. everything else drowned this year. I tend to grow my parships in a few of half plastic barrels and they do really well, i have that many im giving them away. everything else on the other hand, i'm buying from the shops. I'm almost tempted to have a go at growing rice this year. I also dont think i have ever used a packet of seeds that i thought were dud. i would say my carrot seeds, but the fact that after 3 years i havent managed a single carrot, i think its probably me more than the seeds!!

Plants put out a lot of seed, but not all are viable. This is a self protection mode. The plants of some varieties cannot possibly produce enough pollen to fertilize all the seeds they produce, so many are actual duds even though they appear 'normal'. Not sure why the plant wants to make so many seeds to begin with, but that's what they do. Parsnips are in this group. I prefer to direct seed mine with fresh packs every year as their germination rate is already poor that I won't waste time with older packets. I double seed the holes and if 2 happen to germinate in one spot, I pull out the weaker, or if at all possible, carefully transfer the second to a non-starter spot. Take lots of soil and hold it all intact - parsnips detest root disturbance.