[AlaninCarlisle]

I've been growing them for at least thirty years. Most years they just come up and I harvest. But then every so often, this year was an example, three separate sowings in April and May produced the grand total of eight parsnips. There were no April/May heavy frosts, the average temperatures were what they normally are here. The seed was fresh and the soil in good order. There were no more slugs than normal so why these occasional total wipe-outs or non-germinations of a plant that nine years out of ten is so reliable?

I assume that commercial growers just sow seed like the rest of us but if they had these periodic failures they'd be bankrupt.

What on earth can be happening in these lean years

[BabbyAnn]

There were no more slugs than normal

are you absolutely sure about that?  This year seems to have been well above average here!

[JayG]

Sowed parsnips 15/5 this year (a little later than usual, but not much) and only got 4 plants from about a dozen 'stations' sown with 3-5 seeds each, so had to sow again 23/6 to get my dozen plants in total (it's a garden, not an allotment!  )

Hard to tell whether the germination was poor or whether they were slugged before I even saw them emerge, but what's not in doubt is that slugs and snails have been a big problem here this year (still are!)

Plenty of lush foliage, so hopefully they have caught up after their rather late start.

[madcat]

Last year was like that here - and I know not why.  Fresh seed from Kings, good well prepared ground, but would they grow - would they heck!   

This year, exactly the same prep and seed variety and supplier, romped away and are doing great (hope that isnt tempting fate!).  It is just gardening for you.

Now if we are talking onions ...   

[Wiltshire Worms]

I had to make 3 swings to get a satisfactory amount, I normally sow direct but I did chit and use loo rolls for the 3rd sowing...plenty of top growth now playing the waiting game😕

[RJR_38]

I normally make about 3 sowing as and am lucky to get any at all - the same with carrots. This was my last year of attempting them as I figurednitnwas probably my soil. I used seed tape and got amazing results with carrots and a 50% success rate with parsnips - will definitely be using that method again!!

[Comfreypatch]

AlaninCarlisle you have six more parsnips than me😀 I sowed a twenty foot row twice as none of the first lot came up and the second time two germinated☹️  Never had any trouble with them before but this year I went for a different variety, so next year back to the tried and tested variety - cobham marrow.

[mikem]

A couple of years ago I left a parsnip in the ground and it flowered, I had b... parsnips all over the place next year!

[AlaninCarlisle]

I'd love to read a competent scientific analysis as to what causes these intermittent parsnip failures. I can't really believe that it's a germination problem as you get 100% germination if you pre-chit fresh seed on kitchen-paper, or as some seem to do, in loo rolls.

I can remember reading somewhere about a trial with different temperatures. Yes, the germination TIME varied according to temperature but not the actual percentage of seeds germinating.

It must be a post-germination problem, either some sort of toxicity in the soil or a pest like slugs or some other external problem.

Next year, I'll take slugs right out of the equation by using metaldehyde slug poison from the word go!

[JayG]

I can remember reading somewhere about a trial with different temperatures. Yes, the germination TIME varied according to temperature but not the actual percentage of seeds germinating.

Is it THIS report you are thinking of Alan? I've posted it before and what you say is generally true, (although high temperatures can dramatically reduce germination rates.)

Excessively high temperatures are not normally a problem with parsnip seeds in the UK  , although an 57 day wait at 5C (41F) does put the seeds at risk of being eaten or just rotting in the soil, which is why I wait as long as I dare before sowing - it usually works but it was a close call this year.

[jaydig]

The only parsnips I don't have problems germinating are the ones that blow out of my hand when I'm sowing them.  I often find strays growing beautifully in the middle of the carrots next door, or totally out of line with the row that was sown.

[oakridge]

Since moving here with its light sandy soil I have had trouble getting parsnips to germinate but at our old place in the 70s/80s I had no trouble on the heavier soil.  I tried the inevitable Google which referred to an RHS article and that said that 'they are easy to grow'.  Another reference suggested watering the drill before sowing with a weak seaweed fertilizer solution.

[AlaninCarlisle]

Thanks, JayG. That was the report I read. Have bookmarked it for further reference