[sunshineband]

I am now the proud owner of parsnip seedlings. .. hope your are Ok too. Delighted as they sometimes give a no-show.

[JulesJ]

Well done - how long did it take?

[sunshineband]

Sown on March 16th

[JulesJ]

Cool - mine were sown a week ago.

[sunshineband]

Might speed up a bit now the weather is a bit warmer

[Paul Plots]

Congatulations on your happy event! 

[sunshineband]

 

[vineweevil1]

I have never grown parsnips before and decided to copy the damp kitchen roll idea and after about 1 1/2 weeks I can see some little roots sprouting already, will be v impressed if it works - exiting isn't it!!

[sunshineband]

It sure is 

[Kristen]

Parsnips need their tap root intact, so need to be potted on into loo-rolls, newspaper pots, or peat pots (last one probably not the best choice) so they can be transplanted without disturbance.

I've not come across chitting Parsnip seed (with damp kitchen paper) before, because of the transplanting problem, but would be interested to know how they turn out as Parsnip seed is quite hard to germinate "conventionally"

[Mr B]

Hi All,
   I planted 50 seeds, 1 in each of the small paper pots I made from junk mail and put them out into the cold frame, now 4 weeks later I have 44 nice sized seedlings that will be planted out this weekend. Planted 3 times last year straight in the ground and only finished up with about 10.
Regards,
Chris

[goose]

mine are beginning to show in the paper pots, thanks richie.  how big do they need to be before i plant them out.  x

[Growbag]

I chitted an unopened packet from last year onto damp kitchen towel.  Over 50% germinated and probably I would have got more but don't have enough room for them all so ditched the rest.  As soon as a small root appeared and using tweezers I carefully placed them a couple of inches part in the soil lightly covering them.   For 10 days nothing happened but in the last couple of days seed leaves have emerged and so far the success rate looks promising.   I have another packet from this year which was backup in case last years failed to germinate so I will try this again next year. 

[Paul Plots]

I chitted an unopened packet from last year onto damp kitchen towel.  Over 50% germinated and probably I would have got more but don't have enough room for them all so ditched the rest.  As soon as a small root appeared and using tweezers I carefully placed them a couple of inches part in the soil lightly covering them.   For 10 days nothing happened but in the last couple of days seed leaves have emerged and so far the success rate looks promising.   I have another packet from this year which was backup in case last years failed to germinate so I will try this again next year. 

You've done well with last year's seed.  I was lead to believe that old parsnip seeds had a lousy germination rate.

[Kristen]

how big do they need to be before i plant them out.

I have read "almost immediately" - that the tap root grows very quickly, and thus the newspaper pots need to be planted pretty much as soon as the first true leaves appear.

But its the first year that I have grown in newspaper pots, so I have no personal experience.  Harden them off first, of course.