[harry]

once again most of my parsnips have failed to germinate, is it too late to try some more now and what variety would anyone suggest.

[Anton]

I would have thought it is a bit late now, as they take a really long time to grow. Obviously, I am not an expert so wait until other people chime in.

I always start mine off in paper pots.

Anton

[JayG]

I start sowing parsnips in April if the weather is half decent, give them 4 weeks to show (or not) and sow again if necessary (in the gaps or in an adjacent drill) - I think early June is the very latest you could sow and expect to get any worthwhile crop from them I'm afraid.

[ARPoet]

After doing nowt with snips in past years i took the plunge and ordered some parsnip tape from king seeds and followed the instructions. I am growing them in reclaimed square plastic cold water tanks and they are doing great.
I think they all must have germinated.

[Yorkie]

Yes, far too late.  Feb - Apr is the main time for sowing.

[pigguns]

I've got a total of 5 parsnips growing from two sowings....and only one carrot, and that's now been slugged!  Sometimes best call it a day....

On the other hand I 'found' some wonderful cabbages growing I didn't know I had (mostly because I only sowed psb!)
Allotments huh? meh

[cadalot]

3 attempts this year and I only succeeded once given fresh seed from a lady on the allotment, so I'm going to let a couple of mine go to seed for next year. I'm not going to thin just yet as the slugs may do it for me like they did with my second sowing of carrots

[rosiecider]

I find it hard to thin seedlings seems so cruel ... am I sad ? so I carefully plant seeds 12" apart  and if one fails to germinate fill in a gap, have to say mine and carrots have germinated ok perhaps with it being cooler up here and more rain.

[BARNACLE BILL]

I have to say despite some failures with some veg. I have had better luck with parsnips. I tend to ignore the seed pack with there early sowings. I wait until late April. I plant them in deep tubs. I use the blue 200 litres ex food containers (water butts) cut in half.  Filled with a mix of half compost and half soil. The foliage is 2 foot high. I dug my fingers in the soil today and can feel the root. With at least 3 months to go I am expecting a decent crop.

BB

[GrannieAnnie]

I had no luck at all from my first sowing of parsnips, but my 2nd lot have got about 50%, but I wouldn't try anymore now this late either.

I also hate thinning things out, but then my carrots go mad and I get too many really spindly ones, so 2 days ago I had a thin out and the chickens and the dog got the tiny ones! lol

[alancas]

last year great parsnips ,this year none after 2 sowings.

[AlaninCarlisle]

After years of at best very intermittent results, I have parsnips totally sorted. First of all I only use seed tapes; secondly I place them at a uniform 1 inch below the surface in soil that is worked to a fine tilth. Thirdly, and I think this is the real show-stopper, I don't even think about sowing them until early to mid April when the ground has really warmed up

[harry]

thanks for all the replys but it's as I feared no parsnips again, but at least my carrots are ok as long as the badger doesn't find them

[Bohobumble]

Though most the advice is saying it's too late to sow, why not if you have the space?

You know the seed won't germinate next year so use up what you have now. I shall be.

Don't buy new seed yet tho.

[AlaninCarlisle]

After years of at best very intermittent results, I have parsnips totally sorted. First of all I only use seed tapes; secondly I place them at a uniform 1 inch below the surface in soil that is worked to a fine tilth. Thirdly, and I think this is the real show-stopper, I don't even think about sowing them until early to mid April when the ground has really warmed up

What an error! I should have said that I don't even think of sowing them until early to mid MAY