Allotments 4 All

Ok I have never grown parsnips. I thought this year I would try. I know they take ages to germanate outside so I thought about starting them off indoors in seed trays then moving the seedlings into the growing positions once they have germanated and formed a true leaf. The question is will they stand up to transplanting or will this check them?

Thanks

The_Snail

Parsnips dont like to be transplanted, wait until the weather get warmer and sow direct into soil. I usually wait until late March/early April

Going to try parsnips on our new allotment this year. Apparently when you plant you need to make a fair size hole, fill with compost and then sow into the compost because if you have any stones in your soil this will cause the roots to split.If you do a search on A4All theres loads of info.

Don't transplant, plant in their final stations. Wait till the soil has a chance to warm up; April is fine, and last year it was too early.

I have seen modules recommended snail, but like you will be trying out the theory this year 50/50 with outdoor planting. Modules (aka toilet rolls) would make sense because they wouldn't require a transplant. Let's compare notes later on!

I started some off in root trainers last year as an experiment. They transplanted and grew massive - but were big chunky tops then badly forked/split. Still useable but also lots of waste. I also planted some direct and they were much straighter.
I certainly wouldn't bother again, same thing would happen with the loo rolls the tap root grows really fast.
I've always found they germinate fine in the ground, just interplant with markers like lettuce or radish. The worst thing is that when they first come up the seedlngs do look like a very common weed so without the marker - out they come!

A definite no no.  Parsnips and carrots are sown in position.  transplanting the root, which is very fine, breaks and stops all grow. make a hole up to 18ins ft deep, conical is better.  fill with sand/compost mix.  top the last 2 inchs with compost and sow 2/3 seeds in each station.  thin to the strongest seedling.

I have always used radish as markers, but have never considered lettuce. I would imagine a small variety, eg little gem would be ideal. What have you used periwinkle?

Parsnips dont like  transplanting ..
I use a bar as celtic grower suggests to make a conical hole I.E. I put it in soil and move it around till I finish up with a conical hole.I put multi purpose compost in this and set 3 seeds into each hole..Pulling the weaker ones out as they grow..
As parsnips are ages germinating .I have cut some rings out of 3 or 4 ins inch plastic pipe about a couple of inches wide ..These I place just in soil  around hole where I have set my parsnips then I can hoe the weeds from around  and between the rings..It  is surprising how many weeds pop up when waiting for parsnips to germinate and how parsnip seedlings can look awfully like weed seedlings .This way you know where they are goin to pop up  ..cheers Jim

Right first time Curry - Little Gem. I find them perfect as an intercrop for parsnips particularly as I don't like radishes!

Parsnips in trays is a no no as mentioned. And also be careful with radish,lettuce markers. They work but sow them a little distance from the parsnip seeds otherwise you may disturb the young parsnips when you pull the `marker` crop.

Parsnips are a no no for me now but I did grow some good ones :'(

I plant 4" apart - parsnip, - 4"-  lettuce  - 4"- parsnip then so on. No disturbance and no thinning of parsnips!

This gives me an idea of trying out a mixed lettuce and parsnip seed tape periwinkle. Ooh, the excoitment!  ;D ;D ;D

Go for it supersprout!  ;D

Hi supersprout, what is seed tape, please? I would guess that it has different seeds stuck to it and you plant the whole thing? But what kind of tape, and can you make your own or do you have to buy it pre-seeded?! :)

i am trying a method that i was told last year and that was to save all empty toilet rolls then fill with compost and sow 2 seeds in the top of each roll and apparently when you have 2 leaves at the top the roots will nearly be at the bottom of the tube then just plant  the whole lot in a hole,tube and all as the cardboard will rot away...

just got the leaves showing on mine so fingers crossed,,,will also be planting direct at end of month just to be safe

Hi CC, for the absolute last word on making seed tapes at home on A4a, try http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,57/topic,5605.msg161036#msg161036. Even includes suggestions for gluten free ones  :o :o
I loved the idea of alternating lettuce and parsnip on a tape - I'd probably put a cluster of 2/3 seeds at 4" spacing, and select the strongest plant when they sprout.
Below is my pic of spinach planted on home made seed tapes in October, I harvest alternate baby plants as they get bigger for salad  :P and the others eventually grow on at 'normal' spacing.



Has someone written up seed tapes in the wiki yet?  ??? I ain't figured it out yet  :-[.

Thanks a lot supersprout for taking the time, love your pic of spinach too, looks very healthy. Definitely will have a look at the link properly when I have more time... and when it's not jst about time for Eastenders... oh no, I've incriminated myself now.

Thanks all for your answers and information. I will not be doing the parsnips in trays but wait until late march and sow direct into the ground. Thanks again for all your advice.

The_Snail

Not something I have ever tried or need to try, but some people swear by pre germinating parsnip seed on kitchen paper in the airing cupboard.

This is meant to get around the germination problems some suffer from when sowing direct.

I sow in compost drills in April/May and get a good germination. The compost drills make it very easy to know where the row is and thinging is simple and does not effect the remaining seedlings.

HTH

Jerry