Allotments 4 All

we've got loads this year, none last..the difference is, we pre germinated these on kitchen paper  ;D

I did mine in toilet roll tubes this year, they are looking really good. This pre germinating is the answer for me.

i sowed a row of parsnips 3weeks ago because the tissue paper jobbies did not seem to be germinating , the trick is to be patient, loads of them have germinated in both the row and on the tissue paper,I'm now having to thin out a lot and all because i didn't wait long enough  :)

so, it's going to be a good parsnip year  :)

Oooh, worried now.  Last year I was a parsnip virgin and carefully planted seeds in deep compost filled holes - great germination - so I was supremely confident when I did the same this year but now its 4 weeks and no signs :'(  I will be patient but not for much longer......

Quote from: Wicker on April 20, 2007, 18:00:33
Oooh, worried now.  Last year I was a parsnip virgin and carefully planted seeds in deep compost filled holes - great germination - so I was supremely confident when I did the same this year but now its 4 weeks and no signs :'(  I will be patient but not for much longer......

Is it the same lot of seed?  I had the same & got nothing so bought new seed & they were up in no time.  :)

I did all the clever stuff last year but haven't had time this year so it's all going into a drill and I'll see what happens. Last year's seed initially but this year's if nothing appears in 2-3 weeks. Fingers crossed.

No sign of my parsnips either, radishes are up fingers crossed I get something or i'll be gutted I loved the parsnips.

I had a good year last year and my parsnips grew well. The biggest was about a kilogram and at that stage is too much for a meal. How do I get them to stop at a reasonable size, say 500g? Has anyone tried to cut the tops off?

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage.html

The new F1 varieties like dagger tend to be smaller for supermarket pre packs...
I like them all sizes and with two teenage lads in the house we can demolish all but the giants at one meal!
;D

Mine are in the greenhouse looking like small blades of grass in the toilet roll tubes. Just put another 15 in loo roll tubes today as 90% of the others germinated.

just remember if you are growing parsnips in toilet rolls check regularly that they are not comming through the end, its surprising that so little on top can produce a long root and before you know it its through the bottom

Mine are comming up in loo rolls so chuffed will put some more down over weekend. Better than the( 5 )  I got last year.

Quote from: mr plasma on April 21, 2007, 08:50:36
just remember if you are growing parsnips in toilet rolls check regularly that they are not comming through the end, its surprising that so little on top can produce a long root and before you know it its through the bottom

Thanks. Will look tomorrow as they have been in loo rolls for over 4 weeks. Just sewn half a row of avon resister, half a row of tender & true directly in the ground today to compare germination. Will see if they germinate too.

Mine have germinated now - I sowed them on 1st April in the windy weather - so glad that they haven't blown away! As they have germinated and the soil is so dry I watered them today as I don't want them to shrivel now they have done their best to get going. I know for root veg you are supposed to leave them be and find water by sending down their roots but it hasn't rained here since March, so hopefully I have helped rather than impeded their progress.

I planted some parsnips in March and had almost given up hope but I thought I spotted one seedling yesterday! Maybe the others will come up too?
I like this toilet roll idea, do you put one seed per toilet roll? My seed is fresh this year so it shouldn't be that causing the delay. Can I still plant now? Or have I left it too late to re-sow another batch? My carrots seem terribly slow too, unless something has eaten the bloody seeds!! I didn't add anything to the soil as I had understood they don't like anything too rich - was this a mistake? And is it all right to have carrots next to parsnips? Sorry, this is my first go at them!

Mine have been up for about a week, it took about 16 days before they popped their heads out, but the pre germinated ones on kitchen rolls are not doing as well, how can that be, any ideas.  ;D ;D ;D

antipodes.after first germinating seeds on tissue paper put 2 in the top of a toilet roll filled with compost and then lightly cover. as both seeds are now germinated both should grow if the do i would remove one and let the other develop and then just plant the roll into the ground

PS i have heard that liming the soil can reduce the risk of canker,not sure if it is true or not