Well after sowing a full packet of up to date parsnip seed at the end of April I am now the proud owner of precisely two parsnip plants!
I have had a mad idea. What about resowing now. Anyone tried this? Or am I daft as a brush to consider it!
Parsnip seeds do not store very well so if you have some why not give it a try.
As they say: 'Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained'
Now it has rained nearly everywhere, try sowing some on the surface.
If you have spare seed, try sprouting them on damp kitchen paper towel. Place at 2" spacing in rows on the paper, in the light. Assuming they show a radicle developing (3days ish), cut the paper into ribbons and place upside down on the soil surface. Lightly water and cover the edges with dry sand to hold it down. Keep it moist.
As a aside, do any of you know if there is a particular variety that lends itself to producing 'finger parsnips'', as sometimes served in restaurants (when they were open!). Are specialised conditions used?
I don't have spare seed but we are making our first foray to a garden centre since lockdown this week so I was pondering whether to buy a cheap packet.
Bloody parsnips!
I had beautiful germination in pipes - but had to thin dozens of the buggers out, when they simply refused to germinate on the allotment. I've actually planted out my thinnings now it's rained (no doubt this will give me a huge crop of things that look like octupuses*) and guess what... Yes, they're finally germinating!
Now if the bloody swedes would just follow suit...
*"Octopi" adds a greek plural to a latin word, this is apparently A Bad Thing
Octopodes is another possibility!
Wilcos do cheap parsnip seed... some packets at 99p.
My later sowings have been erratic, but checking over the bed yesterday and removing weeds the rain seems to have given them a kick start.
In years gone by I always set parsnips at the end of March. The result was if they germinated I would have massive parsnips with a hard core which we did not want. I now set them early May and we have moderate size parsnips which we like. I agree with Ancellsfarmer try chitting them on damp proof kitchen towel. I appreciate that it is faffing about to set them with tweezers but you need to set the as soon as the seeds have cracked and not wait until they have grown to an inch or so. I now only set Gladiator parsnips using pelleted seeds and I currently have 3 good rows with 100% germination which we will begin picking and freezing September time leaving the rest to mature throughout the Autumn and Winter. Any very large ones I leave at the end of my plot for whoever wants them
Quote from: Paulh on June 23, 2020, 00:02:20
Octopodes is another possibility!
You read New Scientist and I claim my £5!
Quote from: gray1720 on June 23, 2020, 21:28:11
Quote from: Paulh on June 23, 2020, 00:02:20
Octopodes is another possibility!
You read New Scientist and I claim my £5!
Rather a classicist (and Asterix reader).
That would also explain it! The subject came up in a New Scientist the out-laws passed on to us that I'd just been reading, hence my observation.
I'm glad someone has twigged my sig line - someone else was worried enough that they didn't fancy googling it. I know I have a sense of humour like a manure heap, but this one is quite clean and acceptable!
Adrian