Update please on P*****p progress

[Bren In Pots]

Thats good news Reet, and hopefully some more will soon be joining them.

[Curlykale]

I have 2 lots of seeds on plates covered with cling film (one in the lounge on a radiator and one on a windowsill), one lot in a plastic takeaway container in the airing cupboard, one lot in a plastic bag on a windowsill (all on damp kitchen paper), one lot in loo rolls in the greenhouse, one lot in loo rolls in the kitchen and one lot sown at the lottie in soil warmed up with very hot water from my flask. Total seeds germinated = zero.

Out of all of the above, the only ones that have done anything are the ones in a plastic takeaway container in the airing cupboard - they now have some lovely white tails! What do I do with them now - should I put them in loo rolls or plant them straight out at the lottie (if so, how deep should I plant them?). Have started another two containers off in the airing cupboard tonight.

[smc999]

Left my seeds in the shed in a waterproof box so they got cold during the winter. Then sowed them directly into my raised bed and nearly all of them have germinated. No need for all this paper towel/airing cupboard nonsense. Just make sure the seeds get cold to break their dormancy.

[perkin]

Mine are all abut 2-3 inches tall now and developing true leaves well. Now if I could just stop the local moggies cr*pping all over my raised bed I'd be even happier.

[Sanjo]

Out of all of the above, the only ones that have done anything are the ones in a plastic takeaway container in the airing cupboard - they now have some lovely white tails! What do I do with them now - should I put them in loo rolls or plant them straight out at the lottie (if so, how deep should I plant them?). Have started another two containers off in the airing cupboard tonight.

I'm no expert Curly, having grown them for the first time last year BUT, I too sowed some into a sealed container and left them in the greenhouse and some of them produce white roots. Now, here's the thing, I only planted out the STRAIGHT ones, facing downwards.
This on the basis that last year's were coming out of the toilet rolls long before they grew from the top and were therefore bent because I hadn't realised.
I ended up with edible, but funny shaped parsnips
I am only pointing out what I did this year. I am sure that somebody else will come along with more expert advice.
Most of those I planted all have come up and are now a couple of inches tall. Remains to be seen what shape they are though!

[chris]

I think my largest one has mosaic virus - one of the leaves is really mottled. Not sure if I should wait for others to form, or remove it :\

[Headfry]

Mine were sown in deep root trainers two seeds in each (one removed if both germinate) I start them off in heated PG set at about 10deg - then once most are up move to cold greenhouse.
Planted out about a month ago - the leaves are about an inch across now and look ok!
ps I plant them out when they are really quite small, just as first true leaf starts to show. They do have very long roots at an early age.

[Caro]

Oh dear. I just chucked some seeds along a row in my raised beds. No pre-germinating, no chitting, no loo rolls.

Not quite as much optimism as before I read this

Ah well

[Alison]

Oh dear. I just chucked some seeds along a row in my raised beds. No pre-germinating, no chitting, no loo rolls.

Not quite as much optimism as before I read this

Ah well

That's exactly what I did last year and am still eating parsnips from that sowing (probably last lot this weekend though). Did sow rather too thickly so had to thin a lot so this year have sowed about 3 seeds per station at the final spacings so should be a lot easier.

[nuttyrockeress]

I haven't sown mine yet, keep planning it but then don't get round to it. I did them for the first time last year and had quite a few of them.

This year I have read about planting them into a mixture of compost and sand poured in to a V made in the soil (hope this makes sense) although i'm wondering wether to bother with the faff as they were fine last year?

[Nes]

None of my direct sown ones have made an appearance yet (sown six weeks ago - surely they would have popped up by now if they were going to? ). Decided to pregerminate some just in case, so have been putting little tailed seeds into loo rolls for the last couple of weeks. Five are now peeping through - woo hoo ! Better get them down to the lottie soon!

[reetnproper]

Oh dear. I just chucked some seeds along a row in my raised beds. No pre-germinating, no chitting, no loo rolls.

Not quite as much optimism as before I read this

Ah well

I direct sowed all of mine last year and had a fantastic crop. Have done the same again this year - don't fix what aint broke and all that .

Reet
x

[Pies]

I've got snips

Ok I've only got six out of the two packs sown) but im hoping the rest will head for the sun soon

[reetnproper]

I have a dozen now over 2 rows. The first 8 appeared about the 5th May and the last 4 have put in an appearance over the last 3 days - all were direct sown on 26th March, so take heart all those who are still waiting.

Also have 3 in the rows sown 10th April - all rows are the same variety (Gladiator).

That said have just gap-sown a few more seeds along the first 2 rows, just to be sure . Would hate to be short of snips at Chrissy lunch .

Reet
x

[binley100]

Is it too late too sow a few extra in the gaps?