germinating parsnips

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I just thought I'd tell you about how I managed to germinate some parsnips this year, as last year I only managed to get two to grow after three sowings.

I put small circles of potting compost on the soil, sowed the seeds and then put a plastic bottle ring/cloche over the top. I didn't have enough bottles to complete a row so just did the circles of compost for the rest. The germination in the cloches was almost 100%, so I was very pleased with them. Obviously this isn't practical for huge numbers, but if you only want a few it's good.

So ... on Sunday I thought I would take the bottle cloches off the ones which had germinated and put them on the ones which hadn't germinated and resow them.
Yesterday I went to look at my cosseted parsnips and the ones which had germinated and had the bottles removed had nearly all been eaten by slugs. :'( :'(

Will I ever get parsnips to grow???

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Sorry I've posted this twice but the site went down and then I thought it hadn't posted, so I posted it again and forgot where I'd put it.

The site seems to be having trouble again as it seems very slow.

[MrsKP]

i know i'm being impatient (14 days) but no sign of my parsnips.  i've only got "tub space" left, would be ideal for four circles/cloches.

thanks for the tip vee.

[John_H]

I have problems with slugs eating parsnip seeds too Mrs KP.

I now sow about 10 - 15 parsnip seed per station and gradually thin out the ones which don't get eaten by slugs or germinate. I don't thin them all out at once because its sods law that as soon as you thin them down to a single seedling per station, something else will come along and eat them.

I have also been working on the idea of improving plastic collars as barriers which you may find useful, have a look at the picture on page 2 of the 'securing black plastic' thread for more information.

All the best,

[dicky]

I had a good result with them this year, made holes with a bulb planter and filled it with sand/compost mixture then put half a dozen seeds per station, all stations had a t least one, most needed thinning, they are romping away now, no slug problems, them seem to be after the strawberries.

The carrots doen the same didn't do so well, i think they didn't like the cold we had, the earlies and the mains came up the same time despite being planted 4 weeks apart.

[MikeB]

I grew mine in paper pots in the greenhouse then planted the pots in their final position.

[busy_lizzie]

Mike so jealous.  I sowed mine in situ using the big dibber method and putting compost in the hole.  It is ten days now but no signs, but I probably still have time for them to come up. Hope so!! busy_lizzie

[Roy Bham UK]

I must be luck as I sow mine direct, I did this last year also and had good germination and a great crop. ;D

[Tulipa]

BL, I did the same as you and have only about half a dozen lonely seedlings.  They have been in about 18 days now.  I am wondering whether to go and buy another packet in case the others weren't fresh enough although they were a new packet this Spring.   I shall give it another few days and see if any more come up.  Just wanted you to know you are not alone!

T.

[MikeB]

Even the seeds sown in paper pots in the greenhouse took nearly three weeks to come through, just keep yours watered they may yet appear.

[DenBee]

I sowed two rows, which OH, the following week, forgot were there, and hoed the bed.  ::)

The law of s*d has dictated that these parsnip seeds are now having no problems germinating - in a lovely scatter pattern, in among the caulis and broccoli which I have since planted in that bed after OH's little bit of preparation.  :)