To late to sow parsnips?

[PJW_Letchworth]

Hi All,

I sowed quite a few different seeds just before the really warm spell a few weeks ago.  I have had a very poor germination rate and I want to resow my parnsips.  Have I left it too late or do you think I may get a crop going?

[PJW_Letchworth]

[kitten]

I hope it's not too late, i haven't sown my first lot yet  ::)

[Suzanne]

Because of a problem with germination last year I ended sowing parsnips late May and again in early June. I didn't get big roots - sort of more mini parsnips but they grew enough to see me through the winter months - so I would hope you would be okay.  :)

[norfolklass]

have you tried pre-germinating them?

I've never grown them before but read on here about putting the seeds onto damp kitchen roll and popping them in the airing cupboard. I tried it with some Gladiator F1, some Hollow Crown and some Tender and True and almost all of them germinated within about 7â€"10 days. then I very carefully potted them on into the cardboard tubes from loo rolls and they've done really well!

it might be worth a try to catch up a bit...?

[LesH]

       no it's not to late to plant parsnips. Last year with the lousy germination due to the dry weather, I planted as late as 1st August, but  still got small roots about an inch/25>30 mm across.

[powerspade]

I sowed 9 rows 4 weeks ago there is no sign of them yet so I`m sowing another lot tomorrow its not too late

[Rosyred]

Brillaint i'll try a few more then as my True & tender didn't germinate at all well.

[lin]

I have quite a lot growing already on my allotment that I planted direct in the earth in March, but because I am a paid up member of the "parsnip adoration society" I also planted some 2 weeks ago in toilet rolls in my conservatory.

Yesterday when I checked the shoots were about an inch high and the roots were already showing at the bottom of the toilet roll. So I took half of them over to the plot and buried them in the rolls and have left the others to get a bit bigger, so definitely not too late... get them planted!!
Lin

[Melbourne12]

We've just planted what will probably be our last lot, so you should still be fine.

This year we tried planting parsnips in lengths of plastic gutter, cut to fit a large gravel tray, and filled with Westland "Compost with added John Innes".  They've been kept indoors to germinate.

It's been a brilliant success.  Whether it was the gutter or the compost, or both, I don't know, but previous years' difficulties in getting them to germinate have been overcome.

To plant them out, the contents of the length of gutter can be eased into the bed with minimal disturbance of the plants.

[Tulipa]

I pre-germinated mine this year too and they are brilliant.  I just popped them on wet kitchen roll in a closed plastic box and waited till they had a little 'tail' of root then popped them in the gound.  They are all looking really good now.  Wonderful after last years trouble with germinating. :) :)

Definitely still worth trying with them.

[debster]

can i ask about this toilet roll business i read about putting sweetcorn in them to protect roots after i might add i had already sown mine what other veg would benefit from this treatment please

[quizzical1]

can i ask about this toilet roll business i read about putting sweetcorn in them to protect roots after i might add i had already sown mine what other veg would benefit from this treatment please

Basically, anything you didn't want to disturb the roots too much when transplanting, as the whole thing goes in the ground, and the tube eventually rots away.

[emmy1978]

I hope it's not too late, i haven't sown my first lot yet  ::)

i somehow knew you'd be here with my post!! I did sow some in first plot but not had chance to do new ones!! Idiot rotavated them too, poor babies.

[Barnowl]

Sorry to be thick  if you pre-germinate (have never tried it) do they send out a liitle shoot and if so which way up do you plant them?

[norfolklass]

yes, a little white shoot, see photo here:
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,91/topic,30203.0

I'd never done it before so when I came to pot them up, I very carefully picked up each seed by the seed case with a pair of tweezers (OH thought I was bonkers ::)) a placed it with its white shoot pointing downwards into a loo roll filled with compost â€" had poked a little hole in the top of the compost first to drop the seed into, then covered with a little bit more compost.

[Barnowl]

Thanks very much, all very clear. tweezers at the ready :)

[Trevor_D]

You've all saved my winter meals! Parsnips are my favourite winter veg and mine have been lousy this year. (Nothing to do with me, you understand - if in doubt blame it on the weather or the pests.) Right - that's next week's job!

[Trevor_D]

and filled with Westland "Compost with added John Innes".....It's been a brilliant success.  Whether it was the gutter or the compost, or both, I don't know, but previous years' difficulties in getting them to germinate have been overcome.

Another vote of confidence for Westland. See other thread.... (But you bought yours at Wickes early in the season too, didn't you. I think they've re-formulated.)

Sorry - in the wrong section, but I thought I'd pick it up here; we can all cross-reference, can't we?

[kitten]

I hope it's not too late, i haven't sown my first lot yet  ::)

i somehow knew you'd be here with my post!! I did sow some in first plot but not had chance to do new ones!! Idiot rotavated them too, poor babies.

Funny, anyone would think i'm not organised or something ...  ;D lol x

[antipodes]

I have a friend who does his parsnips quite late, May/June but doesn't harvest until well into the autumn and his parsnips are gorgeous.
I planted a first lot in March, bah only about 3 have grown! But the second sowing I made a couple of weeks ago are already through. I sow directly in the ground and hope for the best.