[digby]

Hi everyone

I put some parsnips in last year for the first time, now I knew they were reluctant germinators, but out of a whole row I got 9.  (and one of those was a surprise, when I was preparing the soil for this years crop)  

Does anyone have any hints/tips on how to improve my yield?

Thank you
D x

[Trillium]

If I recall correctly, parsnip seeds have a short shelf life, so it's worth buying fresh seed every year to be sure. They're also very slow germinators, so you might want to start a bunch indoors (possibly in toilet roll tubes - see other posts on this) and you'll know just how many come up. They hate having roots disturbed so transplanting them is out of the question, hence the individual loo rolls. Once in the ground, I found regular watering gave me huge roots.

[brucesgirl]

You were lucky Digby - out of two rows I got one!!!!

Going to start them off in toilet roll tubes this year.
 

[GrannieAnnie]

I think I only got 1 parsnip the year before last, and I don't know what I did different last year, but I was really pleased and finished the last ones at Christmas!  

Will plant more this year!!!!

[Trillium]

It does seem that for every 3 parsnip seeds you plant, 1 might germinate, and it might not.
Seed lots in suitable containers and you're bound to have enough to plant out. One year I did 2 rows and got 9 plants. grumble, grumble.

[Clampit]

The only parsnips I have any joy with are 'Tender and true'. Don't ask me why, any other variety I have tried has completely failed to appear. :?

[Aunt Sally]

I've just frozen the last of my parsnips this weekend.  

I think it's best to sow in situ.  Take out a hoe's width shallow drill and water well, when it's soaked in sprinkle the seeds, thinly and I then cover with soil based potting compost as my soil pans easily.  Keep moist and they should germinate well.  

You could warm the soil up a bit first by coveing it with fleece for a couple of weeks before sowing if the weather is cold.