parsnips germination

[phil the shed]

i'm with jenegade thats my best bit of advice
damp kitchen paper in a sealed takeaway plastic pot somewhere warm
most germinated in 7-10 days into-prepared loo rolls and into the cold frame
need to go in this week end as noticed root through the bottom

[toastie]

You all put me to shame as I haven't done anything with mine at the moment. Think I've read somewhere that new seed is best to ensure they germinate. Last year we sowed seeds where they were to grow so that it was I plan to do this year.

[RowanStar]

I planted some parsnip seeds (can't remember when) and they did grow, and when i pulled them out they were still small about 4 1/2" long, but i think the mistake i made was planting them at the end of my garden near the trees, and in the shade, but this was before i knoew what i was actually doing, i will probably try them again once i've done my veg patch which is mainly in the sunny area,

[Demeter]

Set mine on kitchen paper a few days ago to germinate, nothing has happened yet but I shan't panic yet! They are in a warm place (on top of my fishtank)

Those who have sown on damp kitchen paper - how long would you expect it to take before germination? Those who have offered a timescale on this thread are in the range of 3 days to 2 weeks, any advance on that??!

[kate&rob]

im going to have a go at parsnips this year so will try the kitchen paper bit, do you keep adding water just to keep the paper damp?
i have some seeds that i was given two years ago, am i as well just throwing them away?

[Demeter]

im going to have a go at parsnips this year so will try the kitchen paper bit, do you keep adding water just to keep the paper damp?
i have some seeds that i was given two years ago, am i as well just throwing them away?

My first year with parsnips too. According to the experts on here, it is best if you keep the kitchen paper with the seeds on either in a sealed plastic box or on a plate / dish covered in clingfilm as this will stop the paper drying out.

By all means try the older seed, got more chance that way than just chucked in the compost bin, but I would get some fresh as well, rather than waste a couple of weeks waiting about to see if the older seed is still viable.

G'luck!

[kate&rob]

thanks Demeter, i'll give them a go, after all, nothing ventured....

good luck to you too

[vegnut]

Sowed mine at the begining of march, and they are now showing, and have been since easter weekend. So about a month for germination here.

[Lazgaot]

My first year trying parsnips....I bought a packet recommended by an old boy on the allotment. He recommended pre-germinating them first. I used an old chineese takeaway plastic box lined with a square of kitchen paper towel. Set the seeds on it, fold over the excess so the seeds are covered, moisten with some water, replace the lid and leave in a warm place. 90% had sent out the root within 4 days and I planted them at about 7" spacings on the allotment. I also put some in root trainers in teh greenhouse and they have already shown above ground with two leaves. Roughly 12 days in all.

[Demeter]

Mine have just started sprouting roots today.
If I take them down the lottie tomorrow and plant them will they be OK or will the change from warm fishtank to soil outside be too much of a shock?
Bit too late to be worrying about that now?!

[Getoffmylande]

Don't do what we did though the first year we had an allotment they took so long to come through we mistook them for weeds and ended up removing half of the crop before we realised the true leaves shapes.