Rubbish parsnips

[Galette]

'scuse me for my ignorance, but what is the 'plank sown' method?

[Galette]

[ed dibbles]

With the plank method you sow your row of parsnips (or rows of parsnips) and cover each row with a plank or other flat piece of wood.

Since the papery seeds are quite close to the surface his stops the seeds drying out in dry sunny weather as well as preventing the surface from caking in wet conditions.

After about 10 days you start checking for germination under the planks removing them completely when you see the first signs of germination.

To me it seems to give the parsnips a good start to their growing season.

[Poolcue]

Sorry for gloating but I pulled my first up today 17 inches and pretty straight.

[Galette]

Thanks Ed, maybe I will try this method next year.

[davyw1]

I have been using this meahod for year as well and so far every year has been a success
Dont know if Edd does the samne make your drill then put in a layer of compos, water it then the deeds on top and cover with a very fine layer of more compost. Cover with the planks, no need for watering to keep them moist the planks do that for you

[mormor]

After always having had super parsnips, this year has been a disaster! Small woody roots - horrible!  But as I live in Denmark I wonder (what a thought!) if it could be the seeds?  New this year. Bought in the UK. I hardly dare suggest it. But when there are so many of us that usually produce the goods - why not this year?

[cornykev]

I've had great snips most years and these look as good, the tops look good anyway, when I dig them out the proof will be in the pudding, I loosen the soil taking out stones and the like then press a V shape into the soil with a long piece of 4 be 2, space the seeds and cover with compost and water, the compost is a different colour so I can check the line for germination. We've only had a light frost so far so I'll keep then in the ground for a while and I still have some in the freezer from last year.   

[caroline7758]

Do you use the plank method for other veg too? Carrots?