[Growster...]

You'll be fine, Chrysalis!

If they're smaller - so what? They sell parsnips that size for a gold splonder each in our local Twongos!

[AnneB]

Parsnip seed has a shorter than average shelf-life - I have got year-old seed to germinate but I think the success rate was down to about 20%.

Sorry to go against the usually accepted rule that parsnip seed has to be fresh, but last year I sowed 3 year old parsnip seed direct and got the best crop I ever had with almost 100% germination. Odd or what?

[sowitgrowit]

Parsnip seed has a shorter than average shelf-life - I have got year-old seed to germinate but I think the success rate was down to about 20%.

Sorry to go against the usually accepted rule that parsnip seed has to be fresh, but last year I sowed 3 year old parsnip seed direct and got the best crop I ever had with almost 100% germination. Odd or what?

I would agree with that - I chitted my parsnip seed this year (a mix of 1 and 2 year old) and achieved good germination, planting into paper pots.  The seelings have since been planted out and are on their first true leaves now.

I think age may effect speed of parsnip germination rather than likelihood of germination, within reason.   maybe seed storage conditions have an impact

[JayG]

I suspect the truth may be that if parsnip seed is stored and germinated under ideal conditions it can remain viable for considerably longer than previously thought possible -  it's also true that parsnips were traditionally one of the the first crops to be sown outdoors because of the long growing season required, and because they're not known for being enthusiastic about leaping out of cold soil the seed needed to be as fresh as possible to avoid failure.

Sowing fresh seed outdoors even in April usually takes at least 4 weeks here for germination, so there is no time margin for risking using old seed - as I've already posted I'm experimenting with pre-germination this year as well as direct sowing (but with fresh seed in both cases - still want to make sure I get a good crop of parsnips!)