I am going to try germinating some of my parsnip seed in toilet rolls but do i need any heat or do i try them outside? i am also going to make some holes in my garden and fill with compost and see if this works. Isnt it great to try different things it makes gardening exciting!!
try pre germinating on wet kitchen roll on a warm windowsill
i have heard about this but then is it better to put them in a toilet roll or straight in the garden?
I wouldn't have thought that putting them in toilet rolls was a good idea as the roll may not have decomposed sufficiently before the parsnip gets too big.
Quote from: paddy on March 06, 2007, 10:29:00
i have heard about this but then is it better to put them in a toilet roll or straight in the garden?
either,
I did rolls, direct and pre germinating and then direct last year. Best results were from preG and then sown although the rolls werent far behind. The pre germinating / direct is my preffered method as it is relatively hassle free, doesnt require thinning and allows the soil temp to increase while the seeds chit. Will be starting mine at the weekend. PreG is pretty slow upto 3 weeks
The rolls decompose very quick once in the ground and dont affect the nips. however they must be planted before the tap root appears at the bottom if you want straight nips.
I stand corrected
sprout
i thought the same until someone got me to try it. If using paper pots I would open the bottom end prior to planting
I think i am going to try a variety of ways and see which is the best for me. The weather in Lincolnshire today is glorious and im stuck at work.
i've never tried parnisps but the family love them, think of trying to grow some now any good tips i've read the ones about starting in toilet rolls how far down do you have to put the seeds?
Hi All,
Started mine in the greenhouse (cold) in toilet rolls and so far nothin ghas happened...bought them indoors the weekend to see if that stirs any life...if not i'll start again!
I normally put them in about half an inch deep but i have not had that much success hence my original post. However this is the year that i grow the best parsnips i have ever grown!!
Pre - germination - how does that work then?
I guess the seed sprouts on the kitchen towel? do you then sow this? is it OK to touch it or should you use tweezers etc.. (sorry if this is a stupid question!)
I am a little confused over what conditions Parsnips like.
I have heard some say sow direct, others have said germinate on kitchen towel on a windowsil, others put them in the dark (airing cupboard).
I am trying to germinate mine on kitchen towel but don't know now whether to put them in the dark or in the light.
Anyone?
Jo.
I've tried both, jo..I think they'll chit whether you have them in the light or dark..I pick them up with tweezers and pop them into some compost ;D
Thanks for that..........also...........do you cover them when putting them in a warm place?
Jo.
I've just got them in a plastic bag on the windowsill :)
I think I'll sow mine straight into the ground thats what we did last year and they come up a treat, theres still some in the ground. ;D ;D ;D
I'm going to try both ways, see which is the best method for me ;D
Jo.
Perhaps you could help me too... I adore parsnips and have eaten all the ones from last year... usually start them off in March and dig up for eating around November to March.
Anyway there were two rows left that I didn't thin out and was going to just dig and get rid of as I am preparing my plot for the new season.
But a neighbour plotholder told me to pull them all up (they are about two or three inches long and very thin) and just to dib a deep hole and plant each in a bigger space. I have done this and two little rows have turned out to be about 10 rows now! Just wondering if they are going to grow into nice big parsnips now?
What d'ya think? Linda
Quote from: lin on March 06, 2007, 23:59:44
... a neighbour plotholder told me to pull them all up (they are about two or three inches long and very thin) and just to dib a deep hole and plant each in a bigger space. I have done this and two little rows have turned out to be about 10 rows now! Just wondering if they are going to grow into nice big parsnips now? ...
They might just get woody and throw flowers. Because they are biennial, parsnips tend to grow vegetatively (i.e. roots & leaves) in the first year, and then reproductively (flower & seed) in the second year. I'd dig them up and start afresh, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to leave just a few in to see what happens.
Hi Jenny, Lin I'll be digging the rest of mine up the weekend as Jenny says they will go woody and start to flower. ;D ;D ;D