Parsnip seeds

[Eyren]

I'm a bit concerned mine are too warm in the airing cupboard, or too damp - a couple have gone mouldy

If nothing shows by the next full moon, I'm going to sow my remaining seed straight into loo rolls and give them a blast of boiling water!

You could use vermiculite Shirley but I never do. I read something ages ago about the massive carbon footprint involved - never gone for it.

Didn't know that - now I'm feeling all guilty

Never mind, I'll use up the bag I have on the things I think might benefit and then stick to sieved compost in future. It's not like vermiculite is cheap, either!

[Flummery]

Never mind, I'll use up the bag I have on the things I think might benefit and then stick to sieved compost in future. It's not like vermiculite is cheap, either!

That's what put me off in the FIRST place! Then in the second place I read about it not being very good for the environment. Don't feel guilty - it's usually a wasted emotion.

[gojiberry]

I grew parsnips using the loo rolls last year, but found that a high percentage of the parsnips forked badly once they hit the normal soil. So this year I will germinate on kitchen paper and then put the germinated seed into a hole made with an iron bar and filled with multi purpose compost. The germinated seed will be about a quarter of an inch below the surface and the root will have an uninterupted journey down the hole without forking. At least that is the plan.

Ian

[Eyren]

That's what put me off in the FIRST place!

I know - I got a bit carried away in the shop at Ryton Gardens and didn't look at the price until I got the receipt

On the plus side I got some nice cheap shallots and the beans that I wanted (they'd been dropped from the 2009 catalogue)

[lainey lou]

Is it too early for parsnips?

I know its still pretty cold out there, was wondering if it's too early to start off some parsnips in cardboard tubes in an unheated greenhouse?
What are your thoughts?

[shirlthegirl43]

I have some which I germinated to test the seed validity. I now have a few toilet rolls with germinated seeds in the greenhouse. I will have to grow them in containers so I hope the early bit won't matter too much to them

[lainey lou]

How did you germinate them Shirley? Kitchen roll jobbie?

[Jenegade]

Mine are already outside! Well half of them anyway, sprouted on kitchen roll and then some put outside in deep containers with fleece over the top (shoots now appearing) and the others are in loo rolls in the house awaiting transplantation into containers!

[shirlthegirl43]

How did you germinate them Shirley? Kitchen roll jobbie?

Yup, double thickness kitchen paper folded over them and kept damp (most of the time - it did dry out a few times though)

[Alison]

Too early round our way - and will continue to be too early until I've done some more digging and there's a bed to put them in but I'm guessing that wasn't really what you meant.

[Sanjo]

Have 20 T.rolls with 2 parsnips in each. I will thin to the strongest. I was just about to give up on them as they have been in the cool greenhouse for about a month but they have just, this week, decided to show their heads. I am preparing the holes tomorrow with the old crowbar technique and then tomorrow, weather permitting, myself and 8 year old grandaughter are going to fill the holes with seived compost ready for them to go in a little later.

[Elliesmummy]

I've put mine in loo rolls this morning

how long do they take to show signs of life?

[NOG]

Parsnip

Is it only me, does anyone else have a problem with getting Parsnip Seeds to germinate??/

Any tips please.

[FionaH]

i have some on some damp kitchen roll, seems to be working slowly.

[selfheal]

my parsnips have been on kithcen roll for over a week now, and still no signs of life. the paper keeps drying out but i keep on wetting it.... do you think they arn't damp enough? or do i just need to be more patient