Parsnip germination with good results

[Kristen]

Was just wondering what you do to fill the bottom of the loo roles?

Because surely when you lift them out the seed tray to put in the ground, a load of soil will fall out the bottom?

By the time you lift them out [of the tray, to plant them] the compost will have compacted, so probably won't fall out. I have used loo rolls, not for ages though, and never put anything in them ... but I didn't grow tap-root veg like Parsnips, it would have been something with a more complex root structure, so that would also have probably helped keep the compost together during planting out.

Newspaper / Loo roll pots are a bit more fiddly than regular rigid pots, but having done it many times I don't now consider it an issue. I suppose when I pick the "pot" up I grasp it in such a way as to give it some support, and with a finger or two "Under" the pot for further support.

Maybe sow a few extra, first time, to have as spared for experimenting whilst planting out?

[ryland.j]

I tip some compost into a tray and fill the toilet roll tubes from both ends,I find if the compost isn't to dry it stays in the tubes no problem and then stand them up in an other tray ready for sowing.

[Scoot]

Ok, thanks!

[Python15]

Right, that's them done. Two toilet roll tubes stuck together with a bit masking tape, shredded bank statement in the bottom held with more masking tape. Filled up with seed compost, lashed together on a tray with twine, seeds sown and well watered. I now also know why you should water before sowing. Parsnip seeds float remarkably well and soon find their way to the surface!! Will post a picky if anyone interested.

[Scoot]

Well, I've set my parsnip seeds away there this morning. Soaked some toilet paper which is sat in an old plastic tub and then scattered a load of seeds onto the wet toilet paper. Gave them a little spray with my "sprayer thing" and stuck the lid on. Lets wait and see what happens.

As soon as I see little shoots, do I then place them into loo rolls/newspaper rolls filled with compost and then cover with compost?

I'll also make some little cone shaped holes in my garden and fill with compost and sow the germinated seeds into the top of those holes as soon as they germinate?

[Kristen]

Soaked some toilet paper which is sat in an old plastic tub and then scattered a load of seeds onto the wet toilet paper. Gave them a little spray with my "sprayer thing" and stuck the lid on. Lets wait and see what happens.

Not too wet are they? If any water would run out if you tilt the tray then I think too wet. If so leave the lid off for a day or so and the excess can evaporate a bit.

As soon as I see little shoots, do I then place them into loo rolls/newspaper rolls filled with compost and then cover with compost?

Yes, absolutely "as soon as", if the roots grow into the kitchen paper they will be hard to remove without breaking them.

[Scoot]

Just checked and there was a tiny bit of excess once I tilted the tray, but it was just slightly dripping, not running out when I tilted it. I've left it on it's side and will go back later and tip the rest of the excess out (if any). How long do they normally take to start germinating?

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

As soon as mine germinate they go in the ground, 3 per spot. I then weed out the weaklings if all 3 appear.

[Scoot]

When they germinate do you lay the seeds flat on top of the compost or with the root facing down? Before covering it with more compost.

[Kristen]

How long do they normally take to start germinating?

With reasonable warmth and fresh seed mine germinate in a week. Parsnip is regarded as slow germinating, so might take longer.

When they germinate do you lay the seeds flat on top of the compost or with the root facing down? Before covering it with more compost.

You need to get them out as soon as they germinate. At that time the root won't be anything special, so there won't be any up/down that it will prefer. I've now sown chitted seed outside, but I my thought would be to just place carefully on the ground and cover lightly.

[Scoot]

Oh yeah, they're coming straight out so the root will hardly be anything. Thanks again anyway!

[Scoot]

Thanks very much. I think I may try out the first thing you mentioned and just sow them direct into the soil after making a cone shaped hole filled with fine compost.

I might also try 20 or so of the rolled up newspaper method as well. Do you just use a bit masking tape to keep it together? How long should these be, roughly?

What I will do with both of these methods though is soak all my seeds on a piece of toilet role first until the roots pop through then sow them into the garden direct and also into the top of my rolled up newspapers topped up with fine soil/compost. Just to confirm, what I am planning/just said should work?

The first of my Parsnip seeds have started to put roots out after being sowed on wet toilet paper, 6 of them. Those 6 are now sowed in toilet roll middles and are sitting in my little grow house.

[Python15]

Wow that was quick!! I haven't seen anything yet.

[Scoot]

Another 4 of them have gone into the loo role tubes today, these roots were quite big. I only checked yesterday and there was nothing on any of them.

Any ideas how long I should leave the rest to see if any germinate? Just I have a load more parsnip seed left and I know I need to use it this year so if the ones I have on wet toilet roll aren't going to germinate, I'll just try some more. Any ideas?

[Kristen]

If you are using damp kitchen-paper method I would be very surprised if the seed didn't germinate in Year 2, maybe even Year 3, so if you want to economise you might want to keep some for next year.

With good warmth I find that all my Parsnip seeds germinate at the same time, those that are left go mouldy (kitchen-paper method is probably "more water" and "less air" than germinating in soil, so perhaps those that don't hurry succumb. So you might not get many/any more. If you haven't had at least 50% germination (on kitchen towel) I would rate that as low, so maybe you have got more-to-come.