Didn't want to sow in feb or march due to the cold weather, or April as it was so dry
Checked the weather forecast at the start of last week, saw a dry day in front of a rainy fortnight.
So I sowed half a row of 2 year old Parsnip seed and a row and a half of new seed.
Last year I sowed my (fresh) Parsnips on 26.5 before a very wet period and had the best crop ever.
This year I'm trying to get some evidence to support, or refute, some of the old mantras that are routinely quoted, and yet I haven't met many people who have actually put them to the test.
Two I hope to try are:-
Parsnip seed must be this years.
Comfrey tea.
Whish me luck, or send me to the assylum!
Quote from: Pescador on May 16, 2013, 20:50:17
Didn't want to sow in feb or march due to the cold weather, or April as it was so dry
Checked the weather forecast at the start of last week, saw a dry day in front of a rainy fortnight.
So I sowed half a row of 2 year old Parsnip seed and a row and a half of new seed.
Last year I sowed my (fresh) Parsnips on 26.5 before a very wet period and had the best crop ever.
This year I'm trying to get some evidence to support, or refute, some of the old mantras that are routinely quoted, and yet I haven't met many people who have actually put them to the test.
Two I hope to try are:-
Parsnip seed must be this years.
Comfrey tea.
Whish me luck, or send me to the assylum!
Well I'll wish you luck.
I'm doing the same Pescy, sowing seeds or planting out just before, or just at the start of a period of rain. So far they're all looking well without any problems.
As for the Comfrey Tea, I've used it for the last two years and swear it works really well. I prefer to keep it aerobic rather than the anaerobic version many use though. I honestly don't think it makes a less effective food additive. so all I do is keep a constant blast of bubbles going with a small pump and airstone, rather than keeping the air out as some do.
I also add, just because I had a free sample, some trichoderma(?) fungi additive. Just a small pinch of this. Oh, and also, :) a pinch of guano, again a freebie.
My plants love it I reckon.
Experiment away! Have fun.
I sowed 16 in toilet roll tubes 8 weeks ago but only 2 have shown. Will now re-sow next week.
I sowed my parsnips in kitchen rolls and had 100% success, but it was new seed. See a picture before I planted here (about half way down the page):
http://notjustgreenfingers.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/codling-moths-and-growing-parsnips/
Perfect weather for re-sowing parsnips ... and peas. And to put some beans in.
Every cloud, etc.
I put a row of parsnip seed in three weeks ago, and they are just starting to show. I've started leaving one parsnip in the ground to go to seed so I can use fresh and not feel I waste loads of bought seed, next year I'll try using last year's as well, if that makes sense. I think it makes sense to challenge the accepted wisdom every now and again....