propagating parsnips

[hawthorns]

i have sown about 12 true and tender parsnip seeds into loo rolls and put them in my heated propagator do you think they will germinate.

[Flummery]

I pre-germinate them - on damp kitchen roll inside a clear poly bag so I can see when they have sprouted. As soon as they do I transfer them into a loo roll.

[Snadger]

They usually take a long time to germinate hence the old saying " They go three times to the devil before breaking the surface!"

[gardenplot]

I did mine in jiffy pots 2 weeks since stored in greenhouse and still no sign, no i know why they with the devil

so they is still a chance they will germinate pew thats good news.

[bridget mc laughlin]

I also pregerminate mine in an ice cream tub with a piece of warm k-roll after this I put them in loo rolls stuffed with compost

[Minty]

Hi, i have mine also in loo rolls. I have mine it a very warm airing cupboard and although i spray them well twice a day ,come morning they are as dry as a bone.....maybe i should move them ??. Minty X

[Snadger]

Hi, i have mine also in loo rolls. I have mine it a very warm airing cupboard and although i spray them well twice a day ,come morning they are as dry as a bone.....maybe i should move them ??. Minty X

I don't think they require a lot of heat Minty, in fact I think they can be sown outside shortly!

[pjh75]

I have tried pre-germinating on damp kitchen roll in an ice cream tub covered with clingfilm. How long do they take to sprout?

pjh

[nick the grief]

I usually pregerminate on a bit of K-Roll one a saucer in a plaggy bag .. it seems to take years but I suspect it's only a week or 5

[gardenplot]

I still don’t have any thing; think you were right Snadger “They go three times to the devil before breaking the surface!" Think the devil forgot to send mine back

[rustylady]

Hi, i have mine also in loo rolls. I have mine it a very warm airing cupboard and although i spray them well twice a day ,come morning they are as dry as a bone.....maybe i should move them ??. Minty X

If you're spraying that often, then your compost wasn't wet enough to start with. Same advice with seeds as with open ground - a little sprinkle every day is not good. A good soaking to start with and then enough water to keep thoroughly moist is the ideal.

[Minty]

If you're spraying that often, then your compost wasn't wet enough to start with. Same advice with seeds as with open ground - a little sprinkle every day is not good. A good soaking to start with and then enough water to keep thoroughly moist is the ideal.

Hi. I removed them from the airing cupboard 3 days ago and they are coming through now. So hopefully fhey dont get too leggy and i can plant them out soon.
Minty X

[Matt.]

I think you can sow direct from now on. The packet I have says mid Feb onwards so mine will be done anytime soon. If you are sowing in small pots/seed tray with the plan to transplant later be aware they don't like root disturbance. Last year I tried the paper pot method and probaly left them in too long because the roots were poking out of the bottom when I moved them on. Of the few I got they had badly suffered forking.

This year I'm sowing direct into huge cardboard tubes filled with a fine soil and sand mixture. I'll sow a few seeds per tube then thin to the strongest asap. No disturbance and hopefully a decent crop.

[Flummery]

Make sure you have new seed. Parsnip seeds are notoriously early to 'go off'.

[wiccanlou]

Hmm i'm doing mine in cell trays. Myself and a fellow allotmenteer have decide to trial what would be best, he is doing the tissue way and i'm doing the propargate in cells and i think he has someone else doing them staight in the ground. I'll let you know how we go.