[gobs]

Second year parsnip is quite useless, as the inner core will be tough to eat.

[Griffo]

I have found that, filling old toilet roll tubes with compost (I use Miraclegro) and sowing a couple of seeds in the top of each, ensures almost 100% germination.

you can start them indoors quite early (3rd week in March this year) and then use a dibber to make holes about 8" deep, with a couple of inches of compost in the bottom, to plant out.

The secret is a) to keep them moist and b) as soon as the seed leaves are fully open - before a true leaf appears, plant them out. It's amazing but the tap root will appear at the bottom of the tube well before a true leaf appears. Keep looking after the seed leaves appear.

If you leave them just a couple of days too long, the tap root will be about 2 inches out of the bottom and you'll get stunted parsnips.

It's  a sure way of getting good germination though - sorry if you've heard it all before?

[slowcompost]

Last years parsnip tops will sprout up and go to seed i reckon.  dont think you'll get any root from them.
I sow parsnips fairly dense since they dont germinate well, also tried sowing them with radish so you can locate the row easy.  They are there ok but I think the radish might take over and pulling out the radish may disturb the parsnip seedlings.
I also sow 2 or 3 rows at 2 week intervals to allow for failure.
You should be ok to sow parsnips now. I've done it before when early sowngs have failed and they are just as good.

[Patrick]

Hello Bigsprouts.
There's a picture of a parsnip seedling if you scroll down on this page.
They do take ages to appear.
Once they start they have enormous leaves above ground and huge roots.
Quite amazing in size and taste lovely.

[pushrod]

Last years parsnip tops will sprout up and go to seed i reckon.  dont think you'll get any root from them.
.

I reckon you're right, but it might save me the price of a packet of seeds for next year     don't think 3 parsnips would feed the family anyway