Sow parsnips in June, am I crazy?

[sarah_h]

Hi,

I've a bed of parsnips growing nicely at the mo', but I wanted to get another short row going now. Is it too late?? All the books/sites I read say that March is the time to plant them.

But I'm just wondering whether I really could get another row on its way. Also, assuming that I could get more growing, could I leave this row in the ground over winter?

[doodardog]

Hi Sarah, Last year I grew Parsnips for the first time. I moved into my house in June last year and planted the seeds straight in the ground. The variety was 'Tender and True'. I pulled my first ones for Christmas Dinner and left the rest in the ground the whole of the winter. We had the last ones mid February. I am sowing another row this weekend.
Doodardog

[sarah_h]

Great news!! I'll get on with that today.

The ones I've got growing currently are about 2.5 inches accross the shoulder, just nice to roast whole. Can't wait for christmas dinner.

Thanks for your encouraging post!

[Florence Fennel]

I'll give that a go too, although I have had no success yet - this will be the 4th attempt!

[AnnetteJ]

I'm also only just trying to germinate my parsnip seeds, but am not having much luck! I was trying to germinate them between 2 damp sheets of kitchen paper, but only one has germinated! Any tips for germinating them?

[Florence Fennel]

I'm also only just trying to germinate my parsnip seeds, but am not having much luck! I was trying to germinate them between 2 damp sheets of kitchen paper, but only one has germinated! Any tips for germinating them?

If you have a browse through the threads Annette you'll find loads, but I've tried all of them and no success yet. Still trying though, good luck with yours.

[AnnetteJ]

I think I heard somewhere that parsnips were difficult to germinate, I've been trying for a good couple to three weeks! I'm also having problems with my fennel too! I sowed some straight in the ground - I think about 20 - and only one germinated! I'm also trying that on the kitchen paper, but alas - no joy!!

[bluemoon]

I'm also only just trying to germinate my parsnip seeds, but am not having much luck! I was trying to germinate them between 2 damp sheets of kitchen paper, but only one has germinated! Any tips for germinating them?

Just leave them a little longer, the blooming things take ages. I sowed half a packet a few weeks ago, but I'm putting the other half to germinate later today.

[Two_Sheds]

I always sow my parsnips in May/June ... March is too cold.

[Florence Fennel]

I always sow my parsnips in May/June ... March is too cold.

Wish I'd known that earlier TS, I'm definitely going to sow some tomorrow now, thanks.
Flo

[hamsterqueen]

I've never tried parsnips befpre, buthave some growing well in buckets.

Might try a few seeds or even try and transplant some thinnings and see how it grows. I'm a great believer on giving it a try, if it fails you haven;t lost much and if it succeeds then you have learnt something

[Snadger]

My Grandad always used to sow them in February............said they needed a long growing season? No harm in trying a sowing now though as an experiment!

[smallblueplanet]

I always sow my parsnips in May/June ... March is too cold.

Any particular variety 2-sheds?

[Birdie Wife]

I think I sowed a second lot of parsnips in early July last year and got some reasonable roots, perfect size for roasting whole. Worth doing, I'd say

[Magiccat1978]

I have had trouble germinating parsnips too, my 1st lot in a bucket still havent showed my 2nd lot I tried to chit on damp kitchen roll, 1 germinated then rotted so I gave up and threw some seeds in to a little raised bed and gave up hope but just noticed today that they are starting to show yay ! So I'm quite pleased to hear that they may actually turn in to reasonable sized roots