Parsnips

[StephenH]

I've just discovered from the Dec. issue of the mag. (Anne Swithinbank, page 10) what probably went wrong with my parsnips ('Tender and True') this year: the cold spring buggered up the germination. I sowed plenty, but only got three plants. I'll harvest them to have with Christmas day lunch, if they're any size (I haven't scraped away the soil to look, but the top-growth is fairly vigorous, so hopefully they'll be reasonable).
Anyone else have problems with them this year?

[zazen999]

The only problem was the sheer amount I've got - I left about 8 plants to flower and have got shed loads all self-seeded.

The seed for snoops needs to be as fresh as it can be; straight off the plant seems to be the way to go!

[StephenH]

One of last year's 'T&T', which I accidentally overlooked, flowered and seeded this year, so I saved seeds. However, 'Back-garden seed saving' says that parsnips are strong out-breeders, and you need to let a dozen or so grow on to flower if you want to save seed, so I would guess that htese have been pollenated from wild parsnips, since I'm nowhere near any other grow-your-owners (it's in my back garden). Still, it'll be interesting to see what comes up! I've also got some commercial seed of 'Hollow Crown' for next year. I'll probably sow half 'HC' and half saved seed.

[chris]

Strange.. my true and tender have been brilliant. I chitting some in different ways, and sowed direct too... even left the packet out and the lot inside germinated (oops).. I'll put it down to beginners luck though.. But shall definately be growing loads more next year!

[zazen999]

One of last year's 'T&T', which I accidentally overlooked, flowered and seeded this year, so I saved seeds. However, 'Back-garden seed saving' says that parsnips are strong out-breeders, and you need to let a dozen or so grow on to flower if you want to save seed, so I would guess that htese have been pollenated from wild parsnips, since I'm nowhere near any other grow-your-owners (it's in my back garden). Still, it'll be interesting to see what comes up! I've also got some commercial seed of 'Hollow Crown' for next year. I'll probably sow half 'HC' and half saved seed.

didn't you have any seeds that self seeded - it's incredibly hard to keep them all in one place!!!

[Dottie]

Strange.. my true and tender have been brilliant. I chitting some in different ways, and sowed direct too... even left the packet out and the lot inside germinated (oops).. I'll put it down to beginners luck though.. But shall definately be growing loads more next year!

Yep my first year I sowed Focus Tender and True and I got loads, this year lots too and I don't do anything other than sow direct.

Might look into leaving some to seed?

[hamsterhead]

I've managed to get four parsips and as this is the first year I've grown them I think I pulled them too early but they did taste good so more planting for next year.

[LolaLou]

Well, I'm nursing 4 'nips in a rather large bed and really would like to close that particular one down for the winter to keep out the weeds....but 4 is better than none and as I love them, the bed is still open!
I had a massive germination problem this year - nothing from early sowings (actually, I think one of my survivors is) and then resowed with Johnson's Palace and had a huge germination rate (in May), and then forgot to get some much needed water onto them and the seedlings frazzled in the heat in June (I thought slugs until closer inspection showed the dried up seedlings - I plant into compost filled holes and it had just dried out too quickly). This is the second year I have resown with Palace after failed earlier germinations (in different months) and every time they come good, so I'll just be using those next year and keeping an eye on the soil conditions. You live and learn

[gojiberry]

I have two lots of parsnips one germinated in loo rolls then planted out into deep planting holes filled with MPC, They are perfect shaped parsnips but a little on the small side (2ft long but only about 2.5in diameter). I sowed some direct into the soil, later on, and they are far bigger than the TLC ones.

Ian

[Jeanied]

I had several packets of old seed - which I chitted in the airing cupboard on wet kitchen towel. Not 100% germination, but certainly had a good few snip seedlings to plant out. Now I have a fine bed of snips which should last the winter. I harvested and cut up the first one into chunks, blanched and froze it into 5 portions to serve 2 people.
I gave chitted seedlings away too - and everyone has had a good crop!

[binley100]

I made deep holes and filled with a mix of compost(homegrown) and sand then sowed three at each station. I've had some hooge ones but there again some that I transplanted(couldn't bear to bin them) have forked.....but are still usuable even if they require more faffing with. I've probably got enough to last over winter.

[Snadger]

There's an old wives tale that goes 'Parsnips and Parsley seeds travel three times to the Devil and back before germinating'

No wonder it takes so long for them to flaming.....geddit...devil..flaming germinate!

[Two_Sheds]

Not a good crop this year. I got 2 packets to germinate, most of which died in the prolonged drought June/July

[StephenH]

There's an old wives tale that goes 'Parsnips and Parsley seeds travel three times to the Devil and back before germinating'

No wonder it takes so long for them to flaming.....geddit...devil..flaming germinate!

Yup - that's why you pour boiling water onto the seeds in the drill before covering. When the devil comes after them, he scalds his fingers, and thereafter leaves them alone, so they germinate earlier.

[glaw5]

I had great results for my first year last year but this year's been the same as yours Steven. Planted under cloche in early spring but only got four plants (they look like thy'll be big ones as well).

Jeanie when you chit yours do you do it the same as sweetcorn ie on damp kitchen roll with clinfilm over the top until start to germinate?