Parsnip germination with good results

[beeterforit]

Hi All
Parsnips can cause all sorts of germination problems for many
I was shown a method which has never let me down
Parsnip seed will only germinate when damp so heres how I do it
Sow the seed as you would normally whether station or single sowing
Place some bricks along the row and place a plank of wood on top leaving a 2 or 3 inch gap with a brick on top to keep in position than water with a can with a rose the water will find its way to the seed and keep it moist check every now and then for signs of germination as soon as remove plank
Also stops birds stealing seed
Hope this is useful for some of you

[scarey55]

Hello there and welcome to the Vine, that's a really useful tip

I have moved your post into Vegging out from the archived growing tips because it is not possible for anyone to reply to you in on that board as it is for archives only.

[Bigmallly]

I would imagine that method would be useful for many other types of seeds.

[lottie dolly]

Have heard of using just a strip of wood with a weight on top,

[Snadger]

Parsnip seed is reputed to go three times to the Devil before germinating, thats why it takes so long!

I suspect that its because the roots look like a mandrake root which had Devlish connotations.

[Jonnyt]

Why go to such extremes? Its far easier to put then in a container of moist kitchen roll then plant once sprouted!

Germination is thus guarenteed

[Kristen]

Why go to such extremes? Its far easier to put then in a container of moist kitchen roll then plant once sprouted!

I grow them like that and am very happy doing them that way ... its far more faff than sowing direct, even comparing with pre-germinated sowing and other "higher faff" methods of sowing direct. Much greater chance of forking too, and time-critical to plant out.

I'm all for it ... but I certainly don't think it is for everyone. Lots of ways, not all directly comparable, the method that suits the person, plot and conditions is the one to choose

[beeterforit]

Interesting replies and each to their own method
I learn the hard way by trial and error over the years
Sow plank-up job done no faffing at all

[Jardiniere]

I grow parsnip because its stupidly expensive to buy over here. Year before last I had loads of large parsnips - even froze some. Last year I had a whole row but they just didn't grow well - had mini parsnips which were tasty for about 4 servings. Might try your plank method - nothing ventured- nothing gained.

[bravo2zero]

Tried the dibber with old potting compost method 2013 had some crackers.used it last year 3 germinated so going back to traditional drill drawn out, base watered then sowed and covered.

[cazp]

I use the end of a broom handle to make cone shaped deep holes in my raised beds, then filled with a general compost, then watered so that the compost sinks down and leaves indents the depth of where the seed should be planted (top up with more compost + water again if necessary). Then I sow a very generous pinch of seeds then cover with the remaining compost and a bit of soil. Keep the soil damp until germinatation has taken place. I've had great germination rates this way 2 years running and ended up with nice shaped parsnips.

[Kristen]

Then I sow a very generous pinch of seeds

I think it worth sowing "sparsely" to make thinning out easier. I've accidentally left a pair of seedlings, having not spotted that there were two, and wound up with deadly-embrace spiral of a root!

[mrswadders]

anybody would think that its valentines day tomorrow! oh and a certain film is out in the cinemas........
do you think they ^^^^^^^^ read the book??????

[Kristen]

50 shady Parsnips?

[Alison]

I don't think parsnips are hard to germinate, they just take ages and it can be easy to forget about them or accidently weed them out. Also if you sow when the ground is too cold they'll take even longer. Bi sow direct with 3 or 4 seeds at the spacing I want then thin when they've germinated. I use the space in between for radish which have been harvested well before the parsnips need the space and the catch crop marks the row too.