parsnips

[little pud]

how do any of you get your parsnips to germinate? I have had some in between two bits of kitchen roll (as a few threads have mentioned on here) laid in a tray for over a week now and there no sign of anything happening, I cant seem to be able to grow the little buggers >:(

[little pud]

[delboy]

3-4 weeks...

try modules/loo rolls but still expect 3-4 weeks...

[Mowhay]

little pud, It took mine about 14 days before I saw any signs of life and then just check every couple of days to see if anything has happened.

[Barnowl]

Ok, time to admit my parsnip virginity :-[

So when (if) they do sprout is it important to plant the sprouted seed the right way up and, if so. is the sprouty bit a leaf or a root?

[GRACELAND]

Really it don,t Mater things (plants) Will work there own way up !

Did you never grow the bean in a jam jar and watch it turn round !!  ;D

[Barnowl]

Yes, but I want my parsnips to be straight ones   :)

[GRACELAND]

Now that depends on your soil !

Is it fine No stones or lumps More like sand texture  !!

If there is any lumps stones they won,t be !!

[saddad]

The first bit out is the root... it will find down then push the seed case and seed leaves up to create the straight start... after that you are in the lap of the gods..  ;D

[reddyreddy]

I've done mine in loo rolls (halves) and every single one germinated. they are little seedlings now, do they need to be hardened off before planting out?

[simmo116]

i think i've been lucky so far with my snips my first lot i put in loo rolls and they came up in about 3 weeks the others i put straight in ground with a radish marker and there coming up now! the earth is quite stony also!

[GRACELAND]

If its Stoney !! You may have forked Ones But ok to eat !! ;D

[Tee Gee]

I did it this way last year and I was quite happy with the results.

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Parsnip/Parsnips%20prop/parsnips%20prop.html

A word of warning; do not sow them too early (although now should be OK) particularly if you won't have time or conditions do not allow because if they become pot bound before they are transplanted you will end up with some weird shapes.

If the ground is coarse; form a 'Vee' trench by swaying your spade back and forward and fill the trench with sifted compost then transplant into this.

If you don't want to pre germinate sow directly into the filled trench