[Michael D]

Hi all     I have just received my parsnip seeds today,   on the packet they say to start to sow  back end of Febuary  the soil on my beds are very cold  now i mean about 5in deep.  Is it to early or do the seeds need the cold?  Any advice please   Michael D

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Michael, people always say on here that the instructions on a seed packet are a good guide,  but we have to go by our local conditions.  Parsnips won't germinate in too cold a ground, so usually its better to wait until March, or even early april, or better still stagger your sowings over several weeks.

I know my parsnips don't germinate if I plant them too early.

Good luck with it all!!!  Oh and I don't usually start them off in the greenhouse, either, as they don't usually like be transplanted.

[Yorkie]

I have put mine in towards end of March / early April the last few years and had success (hostage to fortune now!).

There's no point in putting them in early and having them rot off;  they take a long time to germinate at the best of times.

[sunshineband]

Has anyone ever tried planting parsnip seeds that have just germinated in wall paper paste/ I read about it once and always wondered .....

[peapod]

My pack says that too, and Im not listening 
Parsnips can be * to start off at the best of times,so give them a warmer soil for the best starting chance

[DD.]

April sown.
In the ground.
No paste.
No transplanting
NO manure!

[LivvyW]

I had terrific parsnips this year (if i say so myself) T'was a little fiddly but it worked.

I 'sprouted' them on damp kitchen paper in February by the range (nice n warm)

Put the tiny sprouted seeds in Richies paper pots (see sticky) in the greenhouse.Then in April/May popped them in a hole,  bored with a broom handle and filled with sandy compost.  So i never really transplanted them.

Although they were ready before Christmas, they made their first appearance on the table on Christmas day, and apart from Santa visiting my 2 year old, my sweet sweet parsnips were the highlight of the day!!!

[MoreWhisky]

^lol you showing your 'killer' pasnip pic again DD. Impressive tho  

Im just ordering my parsnip seeds Galdiator F1 or White Gem ? thinking of going for the white gem.

Anybody tried em both and which do you prefer?

[DD.]

I've got a "kick ass" parsnip & I'm not afraid to use it.

The one shown is a Gladiator F1 - despite it's size was very tender.

Ended its life as Sunday dinner for 6 and as a spud/parsnip topping on a cottage pie for 4.

[Alfie]

I've got a "kick ass" parsnip & I'm not afraid to use it.

The one shown is a Gladiator F1 - despite it's size was very tender.

Ended its life as Sunday dinner for 6 and as a spud/parsnip topping on a cottage pie for 4.

What did you do with the other 2 people 
Tie them to their chairs and make them watch you eat it  

[DD.]

They weren't invited for Monday dinner, only Sunday.

I mean - my generosity only goes so far - especialy when sharing my parsnip!

[MoreWhisky]

Just took the last one out my plot, to make a spicy parsnip soup on a day like this.

Its no match for DD,s but heres a pic anyways.

[Sideways]

I love parsnips, cant wait to grow my own 

[DD.]

Just took the last one out my plot, to make a spicy parsnip soup on a day like this.

Its no match for DD,s but heres a pic anyways.

Good enough to eat though - and that's what counts!

[muddywellies]

Hey Liv, I'm really pleased to hear that your method with the 'sprouting', the paper pots and the bore holes with sandy soil worked as that was exactly what I was planning on doing this year. My parsnips were actually rather good last year (some even approaching the size of DD's!!!!) but the germination was poor, despite waiting till April to sow, and we ended up with 4 incredibly patchy rows spread about the plot. I'd rather just have one neat full row this year to save space. :happy: