home saved parsnip seed results

I saved some parsnip seed this time last year from a plant I let flower.

Germination was amazing, both from seed that fell to the ground on harvesting, and that which I sowed in the Spring

I sowed one row of my home saved seed, and a parallel row of F1 Albion seed on the same day. Albion germination was slightly worse but not too bad.

Outcomes were variable from my own seed, but mainy very small roots - maybe I needed to have thinned them more, I thought!

Yesterday I dug some from the Albions -- wow! Decent sized roots, despite being so poorly thinned that one forkful had seven parsnips in it and hardly any soil between them.

Verdict -- home saved seed not worth the effort ( as some said to me at the time  ) which of course as it was from an original F1 would not come true. I still wondered if I might get some decent roots in amongst some odd ones but no......

...... just thought I'd share this in case anyone else is tempted  :blink:

I was pleasantly surpised at how good the Albions are though -- each one weighs around a pound, which is about right for us, and leaves plenty behind once yo have topped and peeled it too.

Not worried about achieving  those giant creatures that lurk underground in some plots: find those very difficult to dig out whole anyway  

Not worried about achieving  those giant creatures that lurk underground in some plots: find those very difficult to dig out whole anyway  

One of my plot neighbours planted leeks by using a crowbar to make the hole last year.  He was boasting about the length of blanched stem he was going to get, but when the time came, they were near on impossible to dig out.  Looked pretty when they flowered  

Interesting you got such good roots by not thinning that well - goes to show that there are many ways of growing and getting the crop you actually want  

I always grow Gladiators and don't have a problem. I think the answer lies in the soil!

(Pssssst - wanna see my parsnip? - Oh you already have.)

which of course as it was from an original F1 would not come true

There's the answer there, you were likely never going to get anything worth the bother. I've never saved parsnip seed, but seed saving is worth the effort, if you do it properly.