OK so now I am sure that out of a row of twelve parsnips sown ...only 3 have come up . :( Am I too late to resow ?
No, not too late. They just won't get as big by winter.
I've got some that can be sown up to June. I'll have a look later for the name.
Quote from: Ian Pearson on May 23, 2011, 08:26:19
No, not too late. They just won't get as big by winter.
...not worth it then maybe ? Would they be big enough for my dinner ?
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...not worth it then maybe ? Would they be big enough for my dinner ?
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strictly speaking that depends on how much of a truffle hound you are :)
We always look forward to the parsnip thinnings out. They are lovely. We sowed parsnips one year in March and they started coming up in August
In all but the coldest Winter they will still be growing until February... I have som e that are just up, and am putting some more in this week! :)
Out of a row where I normaly get 30+ only 9 have come up, :'( I be resowing in the gaps this week, I still have bundles in the freezer though, its the only veg I can make last the whole year. :D
My first sowing of parsnips in a raised bed was destroyed by a fox buring his kill in it :o
I have resown & not one has come up :'(
Was wondering if its just been too hot for them as they are used to sprong cooler weather.
Not sure if I will bother with a 3rd attempt
No I sow until July and later sowing's produce the better roots
I sowed in toilet roll holders for the first time this year as sowing directly last year was pretty much hit and miss. Got a very good germination rate that way this time and put them out this weekend.
Quote from: elhuerto on May 23, 2011, 18:06:03
I sowed in toilet roll holders for the first time this year as sowing directly last year was pretty much hit and miss. Got a very good germination rate that way this time and put them out this weekend.
Likewise, 27 from 28 came up and are now in the ground.
I started mine in my nursery bed nearly 2 months ago and loads came up, so I have transplanted them now, trouble is the ground I put them in hasnt had much working and probably meand short forked roots...:(
Most important tip is to use brand new seed. It doesn't keep even one year although one or two might make it. Its even worse than carrot. I sow mine and give away the rest of the pkt- usually to my daughter.. Must say I've never heard of transplanting parsnip- be interested to know how it gets on. I always sow direct with radish to mark the rows. The radish are eaten and the parsnip are up and ok but a bit dry like everything around here. I refused to water them last year and had the longest roots ever. Exhibition length! ;D
As an experiment (I seem to have something religious against sowing in situ) I started my parsnips off in modules this year, a 24-cell tray with toilet rolls shoved in each.... planted out today, fingers crossed.... I had half and half Hollow Crown and White Gem..... also put out the celeriac....
I planed mine out two days ago..they've disappeared...so will try sowing in situ as well today. Shall I put microfleece over the sowed seeds do you think? Am not sure why they disappeared. They weren't very big. I had a bumper crop last year and I sowed them in pots and then transplanted.
Thanks everybody for posting some great thoughts and ideas here ! I have found a variety called Demi Long de Guernsey which is supposedly able to be sown up until August ...... any one tried these ? I do love Parsnips ,so for me it is worth trying again . At least I have three come up for my Christmas Dinner ! :)
I tried the tip I saw somewhere.
I sowed in April and immediately put a plank of wood over the row, keeping it moist, 2 weeks later I lifted the plank and hey presto a row of Parsnips that are so full I actually need to thin them.
Normally from a row I get maybe 10 germinating, this time there must be 100.
Early days to attribute success but I'll certainly be trying the tip again next year.
a plank??? presumably not touching the soil but raised up over it...didn't it stop the soil from warming up a bit?
Touching the soil so that the surface was kept moist, thats the point.
Grannyjanny - Thankyou SO much ! :D
Quote from: spudcounter on May 24, 2011, 11:34:24
a plank??? presumably not touching the soil but raised up over it...didn't it stop the soil from warming up a bit?
I do something similar but use glass so I can see when they come through... but I lift it and water whenever the surface has dried out.. our soil caps easily if dry and I'd worry about slugs lurking under the plank and snacking on the seedlings as they emerged.. :-\
I like the idea of using glass saddad, I have the same suspicions about using wood, slug hotel ;D :o
I will try this next year
I'll be planting my last batch this weekend.
I use a dibber about 15in long to make a hole, then fill this with a mix of multi composter and sharp sand thats been put thru a 6mm sieve. 3 seeds to each station and romove any extra's when growing well.
That's a really interesting idea! I've had success with toilet roll tubes, now planted out and growing well, but it is hard to keep our soil damp if I sow them direct. A plank might gdo the trick - but I would think our slugs might find it a useful home as well!
I sowed in April and immediately put a plank of wood over the row, keeping it moist, 2 weeks later I lifted the plank and hey presto a row of Parsnips that are so full I actually need to thin them.
Normally from a row I get maybe 10 germinating, this time there must be 100.