[sunshineband]

I put an environmesh tunnel in place when I sow parsnips -- carrots are in the same bed further along--- as we all have huge issues with carrot fly. It also stops the seedlings being beaten to the ground by heavy rain.

Not a single tunnelled root last year, and worth the little extra effort

Seeds sown last weekend and the radish row-markers are up already, but it'll be while before I see any baby parsnip leaves 

[Snoop]

Maybe you could experiment? If so, I'd be glad to hear how you get on.

Went to the allotment today and have the following results:

Parsnips sown in soil direct: Nothing showing
Parsnips sown on compost in soil: Good germination of seedlings
Chitted Parsnips in soil: Nothing showing
Chitted parsnips in compost on soil: 50% survived
Chitted Parsnips transplanted to allotment: 80% survived

Conclusion: Putting a line of compost in the seed drill, sowing seed on top then covering with more compost seems to be best (in 2013).

I did the same with my seeds this year and I've go good germination of everything. Obviously I got the timing just right this year.

Sorry for the delay in replying. I have not a single parsnip thanks to the ravages of dogs... But well done on your germination rates and thanks for the info. Will try again next year...

[Headgardener22]

Interestingly enough, the chitted parsnips that I transplanted to the allotment in plugs are (currently) the strongest looking of all my parsnips. They're about 50% bigger than both the chitted seeds and the direct sown seeds. Why this should be so I don't know.

However, I'm concerned that they will behave a bit like the ones I did in toilet rolls a few years ago and create stumpy parsnips.

Still watching.

[peedee555]

might be a silly question but what do pick the chitted seeds up with i would be scared i would squash them or damage them in some way as they are really tiny

[Headgardener22]

I used a plant label. Tucked it under the seed and tapped it off when where I wanted it. Better than squashy fingers.

[Headgardener22]

I've been picking some of my parsnips today.

I sowed them in different ways and the results are interesting:

The ones I sowed direct in the soil haven't produced many parsnips, but those that are there are reasonable.

The ones that I sowed in compost in the soil have produced moire (80% germination I would say) and there I thinned them out early they are large and long. Where I failed to thin them out, they are much smaller but there are more of them.

The ones that I chitted, put in plugs and then planted look the largest but whilst they have wide tops they are about 2 inches long and heavily forked.

Conclusion:

Sow into a line of compost in the ground (my soil is clay). That's what I'll do from now on. 

[Mr Dog]

I tried chitting seed on wet kitchen paper for the 1st time this year (seed was about 3 years old). Germination rate was about 60%. I tried to plant out as soon as the seed germinated, but some grew on for a day or 2  - most in soil with a 95% grow-on rate and 10 in a compost/sand mix in a builders bucket with an 80% grow-on rate. Not pulled any of the soil grown ones yet but 7 of the 8 bucket 'snips were about 6-7" long and about 3" across the top. The 8th was the same size on top but only 2" long. Hopefully the soil ones will be like the '7'.

[sunshineband]

Mine were sown directly, and have developed into smashing clean white roots just over a foot long and about four inches across the crown.

Not a mark on them, which I delighted by

[Snoop]

Conclusion:

Sow into a line of compost in the ground (my soil is clay). That's what I'll do from now on. 

Thanks for the info. Enjoy those parsnips.

[sowitgrowit]

I've had some cracking parsnuips from paper pots this year - long, wide and straight. Spot on!

[alancas]

is it worth using peat pots to start them of in the greenhouse?

[JayG]

I gave up using peat pots a few years ago - it could be partly due to my sandy soil, but I found that if I didn't break them open before planting the roots had a struggle to escape from them - this would be especially bad news for parsnips which don't like obstructions or root disturbance. The peat pots I've seen tend to be rather shallow - another no-no for parsnips.

[AlaninCarlisle]

My experience with peat pots too. Waste of time. OK you get 100% germination but the end product is so heavily forked as to be almost unusable. Last two years I have sown direct into open ground in mid May and had good results