Am I too late for parsnips?

[Minamoo]

Having never grown veg before, I hadn't realised that parsnips need to be planted very early in the year. I have finally dug over their bed but I'm wondering if its too late and if I should just stick to carrots and fill the remaining space in the bed with squash type things and my many tom plants. I've bought seed already though. Would it last till next year? Thanks!

[Kristen]

What does it say on the packet?

Depending on variety (bit late for the Early varieties) sowing in May should be fine - your Parsnips might be a bit skinny, but will taste just as good!

Parsnip seed is best sown fresh each year, whereas most other veg will keep for longer, so best to sow it I reckon

[dannyj]

i sowed some straight into the ground on wednesday - we will see packet says are fine sowing until end of may so who knows

[VirginVegGrower]

Sowed mine inlast two weeks. May is pushing it but get them in and you should be fine.

[vegnut]

Sow them, youll get a fair crop by the end of the year.

[Alison]

Actually you usually get a better germination by sowing a bit later, a lot of people sow early when the ground it too cold and wet but at this time of year they should get to a flying start.

[Norm]

I must be odd. I never so mine before the end of may and harvest from March. By that time, they're huge and taste fantastic

[taff]

Good, that's me happy then, because I haven't done it yet either...

[Minamoo]

Oh thank goodness! I just finished digging over the bed they're going into, planted the new rhubarb crown and flower plants I got from the garden centre today (I know it's a veg garden but some pretties have snuck in anyway like Lupins, columbines and fritilaries just cos they're my fave flowers!) and weeded the first bed that I planted and I'm now thoroughly exhausted. I'm going to chit the seeds first then tomorrow after my wild food walk I shall plant up that bed. So far I'm thinking of putting in 2 rows of carrots and 2 of parsnips separated by row(s?) of onions. I can't remember how many onion sets I have in modules. They should be enough to do at least one row. HOw much space am I supposed to leave inbetween the rows and plants if I'm doing them in raised beds? I think I shall lock the chooks up in their run temporarily while I plant. Trying to plant things accurately through a mesh screen while fending off the vultures is no mean feat! In the meantime, the chickens have appropriated it as their new dust bath after I planted up their last dust bath with sweetcorn.

[JamesM]

This is my first year growing them but i would see no problem doing it- especially as early sowers would probably still be sowing themselves for a constant supply. As somebody pointed out you would probably have less germination problems that can be an issue with parsnips as the soil will be warmer (especially considering the month we've just had). And as somebody else pointed out it is suggested that you don't use parsnip seeds other than in the year you bought them in so if they're going to go to waste anyway you may as well chuck them in. If nothing's happene in three weeks you may be able to sow something in their place.

[smc999]

I'm more than a bit wary of the "parsnip seeds don't keep" myth as my Arrow ones I bought last year have 100% germination this year when I chitted them in kitchen roll about a month ago.

[pipscariad]

Having used last years parsnip seed with great success (like smc999, chitting on kitchen roll, v good germination rate, at least 90%) I wouldn't panic that seed has to be sown this year.

[womble]

I noticed a drop in germination after the packet being open for 3 or 4 years .

[buzzingtalk]

i haven't planted mine yet either! will do it next week.