Ive read quite a number of threads about this subject and thought this year Id have a go myself having done a bit of technical research which I now share.

If regulations haven’t changed then the quantity of ‘live’ seed in a packet must be around 80% but once sown unless growing conditions are perfect, not all of the 80% will emerge. Parsnips being a bit fussy then are subject to poor germination levels as perfect conditions are hard to come by.

Place a few layers of kitchen roll in the base of a sandwich box and cover with water then pour away excess.

Place parsnip seeds onto the kitchen roll layer in a grid pattern at about 12mm x 12mm spacing, put on the lid and put somewhere which will give 25C ambient temperature.

Check regularly and after about ten days the seeds should start to produce a small shoot. When shoot is about 5mm long it’s at its best for planting. Not all seeds will be at the same stage though. To prevent the shoots getting too long and using up nutrients which exist inside the seed, put it in another box inside the fridge until all the seeds you need have produced shoots, or indeed if you are not ready to plant out.

Instead of planting into toilet roll tubes etc, I made a shallow furrow in the deep bed and lined it with potting compost. The seedlings which look like a tadpole were planted 15mm deep and at 150mm centres in row and am pleased to say, all have now emerged and growing nicely. The potting compost is important as any seed needs to be in contact with the soil and moisture. If the ‘crumb’ structure of the soil is too course, the seed can be held in a ‘cave and be robbed of nutrients before it can obtain more thro’ its root system.

This method also works for Parsley too!