My parsnip germination expriment

[chris]

Still too new to figure out why people seem to hate the word 'parnsip' and often blank it out - but here's my "story" anyway.

Last week I thought I'd sow some parsnips - so decided to search on here to see how most people did it.. Quite a few different ways. So I thought I'd try one of each method I found.

- 4 into loo rolls in a heated prop.
- 12 on a plate of wet cotton pads (didn't have any kitchen roll) - kept in the light (kitchen) covered with clingfilm.
- 6 as above, but kept in the airing cupboard.
- 8 direct into the ground
- 6 accidently into some compost that was on the bottom of the heated prop, so thought may as well give them a go !

My results - bit early but anyway:

loo rolls - no sign as of yet
12 on cotton pads in light - 8 germinated, tap root is around 1cm long.
6 in airing cupboard - all germinated, massive long tap root - roughly arond 3-4cm ! All pushes up, etc.
8 in ground - I've heard these can take up to a month so nothing to report on them.
6 in props compost in the base of it - 2 germinated (probably not kept damp enough).

I'm going to re-sow some more because the ones that germinated through the cotton pads I can't get out of the pads, as the roots have grown through them (doh!) Not sure if this happens in kitchen paper, but at least that'd rot down, not sure if cotton would do. I do have some photos of each ones, but I can't find my cable to get them off.

So yeah, for a first-timer from seed (all arond!) I must have been either lucky, had good seed (true & tender), or you're all talking rubbish!!!

[Nicos]

Still too new to figure out why people seem to hate the word 'p******' and often blank it out -

Last Spring we must of had about 100 or more( so it seemed) questions- all the same -about how to germinate a p****** from newbies on the Vine
It just got to be a bit of a joke to be honest- cos in reality most peeps do struggle with them- and we all need to find a method which suits us!

I like the idea of your experiment- esp the cotton wool one-I'm going to try the same method but with kitchen paper .
I grew them pretty well back in the UK - but not much success over here so far by sowing directly into the soil.
Keep us updated!!!

[paula.berriman]

Hi

I managed to waste 2 packets of parsnip seed last year trying to get them to germinate and i managed to get 5. I have some old leek trenches on my plot so they were ideal for growing in and i covered it with plastic to warm the soil beforehand but alas only 5 getminted. We had more success growing in compost and then transplanting but the roots warped and corkscrewed and i think it was down to starting in compost and then being moved to a slightly heavier growing medium.

I went on a gardening course in January and was given a great tip of placing the seeds in the fridge overnight before sowing that way they get shocked into thinking the temp has increased and then germinate. I also read in this months GYO of making large, deep holes in the soil and filling with compost before sowing the seed so im going to give it a try this year.

Good luck and ill let you know how they get on :-)

Paula

[Two_Sheds]

Chris, loo rolls aren't long enough, you want kitchen towel innerds.

Otherwise the root comes out the bottom and bends (and it does it before the leaves get big, just to catch you out)

[Liza]

On damp Kitchen roll covered, in the airing cupboard, 100% germination, as soon as they have a tap root use tweezers plant out, all grew, job done.

[Jeanied]

Great thread, Chris - I have some packets to try out having been unsuccessful many times. Now I'm scratching my head as to how I can get enough kitchen roll innards to do this - I only use one roll every few weeks- anybody got any ideas for substitutes?

[Rocketron]

Great thread, Chris - I have some packets to try out having been unsuccessful many times. Now I'm scratching my head as to how I can get enough kitchen roll innards to do this - I only use one roll every few weeks- anybody got any ideas for substitutes?

This year I'm going to try 8 seeds in a 6 bottle box of wine.

[Jeanied]

I need no more encouragement than that, Rocketron! Brilliant idea.
*door slams as dashes out to buy a wine box.

[binley100]

I need no more encouragement than that, Rocketron! Brilliant idea.
*door slams as dashes out to buy a wine box.

OI you fell off that wagon ? It'll not go well with the tablets

[gillian62]

Wine bottle holder - great idea, Sainsbury's often have those for putting small bits of shopping in, so will pick up a couple wen I'm in next. Thank you.

[gillian62]

Picked a couple up at Morrisons, so this is a job for tomorrow now.

[mogs]

I read in an old, old gardening book last year that when direct sowing, you should first boil a kettle, rush out (nay carefully tread - careful now - Health and Safety Police may Just be patrolling!)to the intended parsnip bed with it and at station where parsnips to be sown, pour (carefully transported) hot water onto soil, station sow three parsnip seeds and tuck them up with soil. I tried it, and had nigh on 100% germination - a bit of faffing, but it worked a treat for me.

[mogs]

Ooh and flew out of the soil in record time!

[Brengirl]

As you can see germination is hit and miss. They have been in about 2 weeks. I realise now that they should have more room for roots. I bought some morrisons pots yesterday they are 10" deep. If I cut the bottoms off and stood them on the raised bed can I transplant my babies into them. If yes, how many to a pot?

[hawthorns]

i sowed 16 seeds into loo rolls on 12th of feb in the greenhouse (unheated). this seed was slightly out of date but the 1st seedling popped up today