Allotments 4 All

I know someone who starts his carrots off in long/deep pots and then plants the whole pot in prepared ground. The gardener in question, like me gardens on chalky soil on which direct sown root veg wont grow. Starting them off in pots gets them growing and by planting out the whole pot this avoids the root disturbance problem you get with modules.

Although the method i describe is used for carrots i cannot see why it cannot be used for parsnips as well. In fact i am planning to try it out for both vegetables this year. I am now wondering though if i should try chitting the parsnips first and then planting in them in the pots as the seed whilst unopened is a couple of years old.

I shall be doing my carrots like that TG.  ;D ;D ;D

With reference to the fleecing, is this left over the whole time or just put to cover in the evenings and removed in the morning if the weather looks fine???

Put it on and leave it.

I planted 12 parsnip seeds 3 weeks ago in a seed tray indoors. 7 have germinated. I'm quite pleased.

 ;D all the seeds i have done in the loo rolls are up so hopefully get nice looking parnsips this year so hubby does not laugh when he digs them up and shows all the people down the allotment

i a planning to chit some today, will on top of my combination boiler be to warm and if yes would putting something like brick/ thick piece of wood between the tray and the top of the boiler even out the transfer of heat better ??? not sure if i am making sense :-\

Well the trick now Becky is to get them out asap... or you will still get distorted roots..  :-X

left in kitchen paper ( forgot) one pkt of seeds all growing?

http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/teresa3/?action=view&current=Photo0166.jpg

Mine are coming up in my rootrainers, will sow some direct in the next few weeks too.

Well the ones I started chitting in the airing cuboard last week seem to have all sprouted when I looked this morning.

I'll get them in loo rolls tonight all being well. Is there a 'right' way to pot them up, I mean can do I have to make sure the shoot is pointing down or anything or can I just drop them into the rolls and cover them with a bit of compost and let them sort themselves out?

Also, while I'm thinking of it, I was going to keep the loo rolls inside for the moment (unless someone tells me thats a bad plan...) will they need hardening off before they get planted outside when they're big enough?

If they've just started chitting Cuke then just cover a little... they are very hardy a bit of fleece for the first couple of days when they are put out should be enough...  :)

Quote from: thifasmom on March 25, 2009, 11:52:21
i a planning to chit some today, will on top of my combination boiler be to warm and if yes would putting something like brick/ thick piece of wood between the tray and the top of the boiler even out the transfer of heat better ??? not sure if i am making sense :-\

any ideas :-\ anybody ???

I just used a plastic box on my kitchen windowcill worked fine ;)

They don't need the extra heat... just in a container indoors will do it... but they won't cook either. Some seeds don't germinate when too warm, lettuce are notorious for it...  :)

thanks i'll leave them where i put them, under the dining table next to a radiator.

If ive got parsnip seeds between 2 sheets of kitchen roll do i need to keep the roll wet, is this a stupid question??

Damp, certainly...  :)

if you use a lunch box put the paper towel with seeds inside and wet the whole lot then drain off excees place the lid of box on and put to one side. No need for further watering damp enough. hope this helps

hadn't put in a container, maybe do that tommorrow, thanks