Parsnip Experiment

[Cloud]

Due to Global Warming!!!!!!!I have decided to carry out an experiment.
I am going to sow some parsnips now and see how they get on.It seems to me that we are are having extremely mild winters,Will keep you posted as to what is going on.

[Tam]

Snap ! I started some parsnip seeds off four days ago - haven't looked at them yet. It still doesn't feel like summer has started so what's to lose ?

[lynda66]

i'm sick of parsnips my first ones didn't grow straight in the ground, the second ones i tried growing in fibre pots, and got fed up of waiting so i shoved them in the ground, nothing, i tried some mini parsnips inside too on top of the boiler ....... bugger all, so i've just stuck the last of the seeds on some kitchen roll, to see if any of them do anything ...... dead annoying though, cos i love parsnips ..... and they were fresh seeds ...... giving up if these don't work.

[Alice]

Interesting question Cloud, and do let us know how you get on.

[lesley12]

i stuck some in the other day as well. Still not popping through.

[di]

i'm sick of parsnips my first ones didn't grow straight in the ground, the second ones i tried growing in fibre pots, and got fed up of waiting so i shoved them in the ground, nothing, i tried some mini parsnips inside too on top of the boiler ....... bugger all, so i've just stuck the last of the seeds on some kitchen roll, to see if any of them do anything ...... dead annoying though, cos i love parsnips ..... and they were fresh seeds ...... giving up if these don't work.

They are notorious for slow germination~don't give up hope yet!!
I couldn't believe that in a row i planted ages ago & thought only 1/2 had germinated,when i weeded at the w/e there were still some only just beginning to show~others had been up for a few weeks.My dad used to mix his seeds with radish as they're faster growing~works as a reminder theres something growing & you need to look after it!
Also(sorry b4 I say it!!)~do you know what the seedling looks like?(I think they look like little coriander leaves)Good Luck!
Finally!,Cloud,I popped another row in at the w/e also~poor germination of the 1st lot~had space to spare,seeds to use~what's to loose?Have to compare notes come crimbo!

[lynda66]

the first lot have been in since beginning of june ........ though i did notice yesterday after i posted, that the ones i planted in peat pots have all come up i had been tending my fat hens for weeks cos they looked like parsnips to me lol ..... i definitely haven't weeded any

anyway i decided yesterday to make them their own bed, so the last of the packet that i was trying on kitchen roll are now in the garden in their own little patch, of 1m x 1m so if they come up great, if not, then i'll give up for this year

well no point keeping seeds till next year is there

[Matt.]

I'd definitely second the starting in peat pots or loo rolls. I tried direct sowing this year and it has failed spectacularly. I also tried oversized cardboard tubes filled with a mix of sand and compost. This didn't work either. Parsnips definitely need tender care at the start...
Maybe I'll try this late sowing approach too.

[SlugLobber]

I sowed all mine in a seed tray and got 99% germination both times (first time they got 'slugged'!). They took about 2 weeks to come up.

[gojiberry]

Good luck with the parsnips, you should at least get some small parsnips. Unfortunately it isn't just temp that affects growth a more important factor is daytime length.

Ian