Germinating Parsnips

[thifasmom]

Parsnip seed is fertile Thifasmom, but being umbelliferas they can be pollinated by other parsnips in the area. The trick is to choose good examples to save the seed from. "The Student" was i think the first "selection" in Victorian times from the "wild" parsnip... avoid the very modern F1's like gladiator...
:-\

i'm having a duh moment, when you say

Parsnip seed is fertile

do you mean they selfseed themselves or were you explaining something else. i don't think I'll have to worry about them cross pollinating with others as only my neighbour grows them and he has never let them flower.

I'll have to check which variety I've got it was a small pack from one of the swaps (i think they were saved seed but will have to double check).

[thifasmom]

[RobinOfTheHood]

I've had decent results saving seed from Tender and True.  :)

[saddad]

The seed can cross pollinate with wild ones... over some distance. The seeds will then produce thinner roots.  :-X

[thifasmom]

ok i understand now :).

[lottie lou]

I know everyone says it is a bit too early to sow parsnips but I germinated some on tissue to check if they were still viable.  They were and I couldn't resist planting them in a tray.  Will they grow all right do you think?

[Eristic]

Trays are not really suitable. you really need at least 4-6 inches depth of soil to keep them going for about 3 weeks.

[lottie lou]

drat.  Oh well start again.

[flowerofshona2007]

Had great results from pre chitting on kitchen roll even from 3 year old seed !!! you dont waste time or compost on no viable seeds  :D

[chriscross1966]

Last year I chitted them on kitchen towel then sowed them 3 to a loo tube.  Removed the weaker seedlings and planted the tube and all when big enough.  Had the best crop yet.

I've used this method before adn will be doing so again this year... 3 seeds per tube, keep the big one, plant tubes out at sensible gapping in March/early April

chrisc

[manicscousers]

hiya, chriscross, welcome to the site  ;D
we do the same ,without the loo roll tubes

[tonybloke]

Wotcha chriscross! welcome to the site!! ;)

[Little Bee]

Parsnips need to be kept moist to germinate.
When i sow mine i put a layer of kitchen roll paper in the bottom of a trench and sow direct onto it before covering with compost...works a treat ;)

[Plot69]

1. When do you sow yours?
2. Do you pre chit them?
3. Do you sow direct, with good results?
4. When exactly do you start them off?
5. Would I be better off starting them off in loo tubes in a propagator?

The parsnip debate rages on. I had trouble with my parsnips the first year I got my plots but I took the advise of the old boys around me who all had lovely parsnips.

Quoting from a previous post that can be found here...
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,47893.msg483457.html#msg483457

I Love parsnips... Some people sniff glue, I could sit and sniff a parsnip all day.

The old boy next to me has lovely parsnips so I asked how he grew them. He said "I just scrape a drill through the frost in February and drop the seeds in".

So last February I followed his advice. I've had parsnips with every roast dinner since and still got enough to last until next Christmas. Some have forked but the vast majority are perfectly parsnip shaped.

I read in a post somewhere about Fenland soil, I'm on lovely dark crumbly Fenland soil so maybe that helps.

No fancy scientific germination methods, no artificial colours or preservatives, I just slapped them in the ground.

I used Mr Fothergills seed if that helps.