[andy dewar]

Hi folks after a fantastic year last year were all my parsnips came up this year iv only got 18 out of 75 sown ,  is it to late to sow more to make up shortfall any advise would be appreciated thanks Andy

[Annen]

Give it a go.  What's the worst that can happen? If nothing comes up well...at least you tried.
None of mine came up, I'm having a parsnip interregnum this year.

[mjpalin]

I planted mine later than this last year after a disastrous first attempt, and we still had a good crop.

[Auntiemogs]

I'm going to put a few more in, nothing ventured nothing gained! 

[Paul Plots]

I'm going to put a few more in, nothing ventured nothing gained! 

As I've not ventured this year, due to being short of time, mine are going in at the next available opportunity.

Who knows what will or wont work this year of delayed starts. 

[Auntiemogs]

I think mine would have done ok, but the compost I bought this year is throwing up tomato seedlings everywhere (Tomorite Tomato growbag).  Unfortunately, this is the first time I've grown parsnips so I went through pulling all the 'tomato seedlings' out, not realising that they look very similar to parsnip seedlings until the first true leaf. 

Hopefully a few will have survived but I've got half a packet of seed left that won't keep so I'll just bung em in anyway...

[sunshineband]

Nothing ventured ....

[AnnieB]

Not a lot to lose, the weather has been so cold I doubt that planting them 6 weeks ago would have made any real difference. Also they tend to be in the ground until late in the year so will have time to develop into something reasonable.

Planting time and harvest time are likely to not follow normal precedence this year. I planted a good few of my seeds somewhat early indoors (Janurary/Feburary) but it seems to have been beneficial to have done so.  Glad I ignored the "rules" as I have a selection of good plants now - tomatoes, leeks, peppers, onions, parsnips.

Add in that parsnip seeds tend to not last until the next year and you may as well plant whatever you have and take the chance of what is produced.

[Aidy]

Add in that parsnip seeds tend to not last until the next year and you may as well plant whatever you have and take the chance of what is produced.

Not entirely true! Last year I experimented with three rows of snips, one fresh, one last years seed and one possibly two year old seed.

The difference between the fresh and the one year old seed was next to nothing regarding germination, the older seed did suffer and only around 45% germinated. the seed was the same variety, Gladiator and from the same seed company.
As you also may be aware I always pre-chit my seed, again this year all seed that was sown pre-chitted has all come up and looking good.

To answer the post, no put them in, that way you may have a nice succession of snips later in the year.

[allotmentor]

I'd be tempted to sow/thin them to slightly wider spacings than the normal 15cm(plant)x30cm(row) and make sure they are well weeded - this should let them catch up with the earlier sown ones and, if not, you'll have lovely fashionable baby parsnips

[Herb]

Add in that parsnip seeds tend to not last until the next year and you may as well plant whatever you have and take the chance of what is produced.

Not entirely true! Last year I experimented with three rows of snips, one fresh, one last years seed and one possibly two year old seed.

I did the same experiment - not a single seed germinated from the 2 older year's packets - so I've bunged the rest of the fresh pack in.

[andy dewar]

Thanks everyone il put some in tomorrow , as an aside this is seed i had left from last year so makes you wonder perhaps it is always best to buy fresh each year thanks again Andy

[DD.]

We always advise to buy fresh parsnip seed every year. This is one of the few veg that you really need to.

[Beetroot queen]

We have people growing parsnips in the poly, is that a good idea, I always thought it would be too hot. I have space for a small row if so.

[shokkyy]

We have people growing parsnips in the poly, is that a good idea, I always thought it would be too hot. I have space for a small row if so.

I've never grown parsnips in mine, but I certainly grow carrots in there and they seem quite happy. Last year I also tried a few other things that are traditionally supposed to like cool conditions, like cabbage, chard, spinach, beetroot, swede, and all of them did well.