Parsnip or weeds?

[DonSpillacy]

I sowed a row of parnsips and about three different things are just popping through the soil. Are they parsnips or weeds. I've got a few gardening books, but none of them show what parsnip seedlings actually look like. The bloke from the plot next door said the plants look like a normal seedling but with an extra bit, but that didn't really help. I don't want to weed it until I sure I'm not weeding the wrong thing, but does anyone know if these are weeds or not? Or has anyone come across a site or book that has decent pictures of emerging seedlings?

[Bren In Pots]

Have a look here at google images :-

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=pa...w=1120&bih=658

[veggiechicken]

Here's a useful thread I didn't know existed until I followed Bren's link ^^^^
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...nce_14984.html
Maybe we should wake it up again

[DonSpillacy]

Thanks. I had tried searching as well, but didn't use the word seedling... I think they're a bit small to pick between at moment, hopefully in a week or so it will be more obvious.

[zazen999]

What I do is to wait until the parsnips [and carrots] are a good couple of inches tall before I weed anything; as just the disturbance of weeding out weeds nearby can snap the carrot/parsnip root from the seed if it's just germinating if you get too close. So I just cover them and leave them to it for 6 weeks and then weed. Then cover again and leave until ready to harvest.

[Beanz]

You need to look out for the serrated edges to the leaves to be able to recognise them as parsnips. As already said, leave alone until you are sure!

[DonSpillacy]

Thanks both.

I'll definately leave alone until I'm sure. Ideally they should be were the string line is but it doesn't seem to work that way.

[roitelet]

Again leave them alone until sure but Parsnips have fairly narrow light green seedling leaves. If you station sow next year they will be easier to identify.

[Jardiniere]

good luck with them whatever......I have sown a whole new packet of seeds this year and so far have (fingers crossed) 4 seedlings.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Here is what an old parsnip grower does. Take out a drill half an inch deep. Sow a couple of seeds every 4" along the drill and then sow radish seeds in between the parsnip seeds and cover as normal. The radishes will germinate quickly marking the row and when the parsnips germinate later, they will be instantly recognisable and be visible where you expect to see them

[toby6668]

Good one. I like that idea.

[WilliamD]

This was my parsnip seedlings (on the right) a couple of weeks ago. Hope this helps.

[toby6668]

I like your row tag things. Must look for some of them!

[Vince G]

Don't weed until 4-6 weeks after sowing. Then they will have developed their thin seed leaves and also at least one broad leaf with a sereated edge, then it's easy to pick out the wrong-uns.

[bearded bloke]

Ere you go,thin seed leaves at 3 days after emerging ............