Allotments 4 All

I'm trying to get a parsnip plan ! together by testing this year.

I have some plants in paper pots, I'm going to sow some direct tomorrow (some in rows some in holes) and I have germinated some on a wet paper towel.

Hopefully one method will prove the best.

Does anyone have a recommendation for planting out / spacing the pre germinated seeds?

About 5" - 6", so that you have about 1" - 2" between muture roots. Did you try planting them striaght in the ground, that what i normally do, you just have to remember they take ages to germinate. Some i planted 6 weeks ago have only just shown up.

Thanks for pointing out the long germination time, Keef. I planted first row today - 2 seeds in deep compost filled hole (as in Top Tips) and intend planting another row direct into ground tomorrow for comparison.  Would have thought nothing was coming at all - so now know to be patient........

I have the following method which works well.Make a whole with a dibber the width of a spade handle.Fill the hole with compost and plant 3 seeds at each of the stations when germination occurs remove the weakest seedlings leaving 1 in situ.Hope this is of use!

I am trying your method chris, it has the advantage that you can see where the seeds have been planted !

My dad always planted radish between the parsnip seeds.  They germinate quickly and mark the row.  Harvesting does not seem to bother the parsnips.

Sorry might not of made myself too clear here.

I have pre germinated the seeds as mentioned in a previous thread so I have little parsnip seeds with wiggly white bits sticking out. Do I still plant these 2 / 3 to a station or now that germination has happened 1 to a station?

Quote from: glow777 on April 19, 2006, 08:23:10
Sorry might not of made myself too clear here.

I have pre germinated the seeds as mentioned in a previous thread so I have little parsnip seeds with wiggly white bits sticking out. Do I still plant these 2 / 3 to a station or now that germination has happened 1 to a station?

One to a station, the reason for three is in case some of them failed to germinate, since yours have germinated you only need the one.

I would plant the chitted seeds 2" apart this will allow for some failures and if they are too thick then thin them out

Phil

Planted ours yesterday, a couple of seeds to each compost filled hole, although some went straight in the soil- I should say for comparison but i actually ran out of compost!!

I planted 4 rows of parsnips yesterday and intersowed with a quick maturing lettuce to mark the rows.

I'm trying the fence post dibber method. Sharpened 4" diameter fence post driven about 15" down, filled with compost/soil mixture and planted with three seeds. The holes are clearly visible so I'll keep you all posted. I'm trying this method because of my heavy stony soil. Lots of hard work but it had the old boys on the lottie curious...they think I'm bonkers anyway.... ;D

Just wanted to let you know that my parsnips have germinated :D 

I sowed them 3 to a compost parsnip pit.  One thing tho, I don't think I have made best use of space in the bed.  I have 16 pits in an area roughly 4x4, is that about right?  or could I squeeze in a few more?

Hi Everyone, I'm a newbe,  I don't have an allotment I only have space in my garden's beds & borders to grow my veg and as there's only two to feed at present (due to change in May), I sow little batches of veg to fit into the space available and make multipule sowings to try and head off a glut of produce. 
Sorry if this has been discussed before but my question is, how late can you sow parsnips considering the length of time it can take them to germinate?
I've not sown any as yet, was planning to get some sown this weekend and then sow in succession thereafter, say every two weeks, how many weeks could I continue to do so. Do high summer temps begin to adversely effect the success rate of germination for example?
Thanks for your much valued advice.

Brian. :-\

it says in KG this month that you can sow right up to mid-may...but would be better using newer (F1)varieties.  however because of the long growing time, unless you plan to pull parsnips as baby veg, i would use the space to grow other veg such as those that give you a quick turn around such as loose leaf lettuce and expensive delicacies such as strawberries.  parsnips hog the ground for quite some time and are 2 a penny from the grocers.