[JayG]

4 weeks is not at all unusual in less than perfect conditions - you could try re-sowing next to the existing rows to hedge your bets if you've not got acres of spare space to play around with.

48 hours after sowing 3 rows of parsnips I won't be able to follow my own advice - all 3 plastic plant labels I used to mark the rows have been pulled out - I found one a few feet away, the other 2 have disappeared off the face of the earth! 

Never happened before, and although blackbirds have been up to their usual messy tricks looking for insects I'm currently suspecting a Jay which has made several appearances in my and neighbouring gardens recently.

Not that keen on concreting row markers in  , so if anyone has any better ideas please let me know. 

[Yorkie]

Bigger labels? 

A severe word with your namesake?! 

[mobilekat]

Its the starlings here that do that- I end up shoving them so far into the ground that I cannot read them, but at least they stay put!

 

[ARPoet]

2 sticks and a line of string between them.

[Beetroot Queen]

I think i may have the culprit and his name isnt jay

[Yorkie]

 

[JayG]

I think the culprit probably took exception to my anti-cat netting over the parsnip bed, because there are a few other plant labels dotted about which have been there since last year and completely ignored!

Probably not worth trying to re-mark these particular rows because I did too good a job tamping and watering the soil after sowing, but will probably use short canes for future sowings and rely on memory/spreadsheet to remind me of what went where.

Was half expecting some 'Jay' jokes, even though my name isn't actually Jay! 

BQ - what is his name then (and how do you know it's a he and not a she?  )

[Yorkie]

I made a pun about your namesake ... clearly far too subtle for orang-utans 

[Beetroot Queen]

I think the culprit probably took exception to my anti-cat netting over the parsnip bed, because there are a few other plant labels dotted about which have been there since last year and completely ignored!

Probably not worth trying to re-mark these particular rows because I did too good a job tamping and watering the soil after sowing, but will probably use short canes for future sowings and rely on memory/spreadsheet to remind me of what went where.

Was half expecting some 'Jay' jokes, even though my name isn't actually Jay! 

BQ - what is his name then (and how do you know it's a he and not a she?  )

Hes called Harry and I know it was him because he came and got me from the kitchen and while he was busy downstairs, she was busy upstairs with a whole bottle of PVA glue and her sisters quilling papers. I was only doing lunch how do they cause such chaos 

[JayG]

Ah yes, should have guessed - sounds like you need to invent a new game: "Helping mummy get lunch ready." 

[mumofstig]

That game can cause all sorts of problems 

[New shoot]

That was just what I was thinking   

Mind you, you can't fault the lad for speed.  Up to Sheffield nicking JayG's labels, then back in time to practise his innocent look on mum as she emerges from the kitchen   

[tosca100]

I have a problem with markers too, have had for over five years. Plastic, wooden, twig or cane. They all disappear unless I push them into the ground so far I can't see them myself!

Bella dog. Obsessed! They weren't even safe when I had a greenhouse!

[JayG]

That was just what I was thinking   

Mind you, you can't fault the lad for speed.  Up to Sheffield nicking JayG's labels, then back in time to practise his innocent look on mum as she emerges from the kitchen   

I hope there's some of the PVA glue and quilling papers left over so he can construct something useful from them! 

Is it better to have 1 scene of chaos happening under one's nose than 2 happening in different parts of the house I wonder?   

Went down the garden again this morning and discovered that a large red onion I'd forgotten about last year and planted in the garden (to possibly produce seeds from) has been shifted on to the path about 6' away.
 
Not blaming Harry for that (unless he smells of onion  ) and currently looking for some 6" nails and superglue to fix it in place!

[Dave NE]

A few decent sized pebbles and a marker pen should do, Dave