[Kirpi]

I start my parsnip seeds off by chitting on damp kitchen roll.

In the past I have then sown them into loo rolls and then planted the whole thing out just before the tap root hits the bottom, but this has resulted in a short fat rootstock with a tangle of forked rootlets underneath.

Has anyone sown chitted parsnip seeds into de-stoned and crumbly soil and seen better results or am I better off sowing into loo rolls as before?

I am hoping sowing direct would help the tap root to stay straight and may save some money in compost.

[A Reyt Tayty]

I'm going to try both ways this year. Last year did the loo roll thing. Some were really good, but some forked. However the bed I'm planting in this year had lots of old compost dug into it at the end of last year, plus a good sprinkling of growmore early this year.

[sunshineband]

I find that sowing directly into the soil is by far the best way to get decent straight roots. No matter how hard I try, pre-germinating seems to end in forks 

Leaving sowing until mid/late April means the soil is (usually) warm enough for seedlings to show within ten days, and a quick thin out to around two inches apart gives enough space for then to grow fast

Thinning our every other one later in the season gives huge fat roots for the winter, and well into the new year too 

[gremlin]

Tried pre-chitting before sowing this year.  Just not worth the faff.

First problem was that the parsnips chitted in the middle of the week (I am a weekend gardener) so I couldn't get the the plot before the roots were 5mm long and tangled up like corkscrews

Then peeling them off he kitchen roll without damaging the roots took ages, and I think I broke or damaged a lot of the roots.   When laying the chitted seeds on the soil the roots poked upwards, so the parsnips will need to do a U-turn to grow downwards. I know they will, but they wont thank me for planting them upside down. Not expecting much this year.

Thank you for listening 

[DD.]

I'm with Sunny & Gremlin.

[solway cropper]

If your soil is not really suitable for parsnip growing why not just grow them in deep containers. I've had great results over the last few years. Sow direct then there's no shock from transplanting and you can sow under cover and move them outside when the weather improves. I usually get at least 80 percent germination and the yields can be quite amazing.

[plum crumble]

what sort of containers - does it matter? Do you do any particular soil/sand mix or anything? I really do struggle to get a good crop of snips, and I do love 'em so!

[JayG]

I think this is a situation clearly calling for an experiment!   

I'm intrigued by Aidy's pre-germination idea so I'll try 2 rows like that, and 2 using my usual station-sowing technique (garden scale as usual - each row will only be 8' long!)

I'll let you know in November whether I'm changing my username to J-Aided or J-aded, although it could be much earlier than that if I can't extricate the roots from the tissue!!   

[Auntiemogs]

I've got some of these Plum  http://www.wilko.com/decorative-pots+planters/wilko-sovereign-planter-trough-olive-70cm/invt/0298389

I was going to chit mine but after reading the thread I'm going to direct sow and keep them indoors until they germinate.  Just got my Arrow seeds the other day (apparently they're good for growing in pots, so I'm going to give it a whirl! 

[Kirpi]

to JayG - I'll run this experiement as well and let you know the outcome.

to Auntimogs - your link goes to a broken thread. Can you enlighten us please?

[Auntiemogs]

Oops!  They've probably updated the site, sorry.... 

Was just a link to some decent troughs from Wilkos, 70cm long and a good depth...

http://www.wilko.com/decorative-pots+planters/wilko-sovereign-planter-trough-olive-70cm/invt/0298389

[Aidy]

I always pre-chit and sow directly in the ground and this is the result...



Enough said!

[DD.]

I sow direct, but don't chit and I can double you!

4lb 5oz (just over 2 kilos in new money)



Sorry to those of you who seen this a few times, but Aidy was asking for it!

[Auntiemogs]

   Think I'm going to need a bigger pot...

Right, that's mine in (unchitted)...fingers crossed...

[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

I'm trying Richy pots and direct....

What is the best spacing for them?