Anyone tried fluid sowing?

[supersprout]

Has anyone tried fluid sowing? (must be the pouring rain put that into my head) I sprouted carrot seed and put it in a bag of (non fungicidal) wallpaper and then forgot it for 2 weeks euggh :'( so still in the experimental stage. Any tips from anyone who's tried it please  ??? :D

[supersprout]

[Diana]

Sorry not tried fluid sowing, but do pre-sprout quite a few seeds + that works really well.

[Palustris]

Yes, we used to do it for parsnips every year. Pre-germinate them in boiled, cooled water on a saucer, or in one of those plastic food container type things. Then mix with the wall paper paste. I used to use and old icing bag with the widest nozzle, but you could improvise. Make your drill as normal. Squeeze the stuff out and cover with soil. Thin out as they grow since you cannot really adjust the spacing, it can be a bit wasteful.

[daisymay]

new one on me! v. interesting  :)

[redimp]

Thin out as they grow since you cannot really adjust the spacing, it can be a bit wasteful.

I would have the thought the only point to going to so much trouble would be to avoid the above.

[raisedbedted]

It would be worth it to get a whole row of parsnips rather than 5 successful germiantors in a 10' row.

Ditto carrots for that matter.

I did it this year with carrots and it worked a treat - didnt bother with wallpaper paste though just poured them into a row.

[supersprout]

Thank you eric, I will try again wiv parsnips this year following your recipe. Just love the idea of taking an icing bag to my beds, that should give my neighbours something to talk about ;D

[john_miller]

Thin out as they grow since you cannot really adjust the spacing, it can be a bit wasteful.

I would have the thought the only point to going to so much trouble would be to avoid the above.

Fluid sowing, because it involves pre-germinated seeds, will also result in much faster emergence. This can be particularly useful for such typically slow germinating species as parsnips.
Fluid sowing was used commercially for a short time but has now been superseded by pelleted seed (which have their germination initiated and suspended chemically) allowing for precise spacing.