Parsnip seeds too old?

**ann-the-nan** · 04-05-2009, 06:30 AM

Parsnip seeds too old?

As my seeds planted last year have only just come up, I thought I wouldn't bother again. However, I still have seeds left and I had forgotten the thing about soaking them and put them straight in. Most of them have germinated.

**Two_Sheds** · 04-05-2009, 07:13 AM

I've now got some testing - on damp kitchen paper - so ask me again in a few days

**Snadger** · 04-05-2009, 07:32 AM

I know it has a reputation but my Dad and I were cleaning out my Grandads house after he died when we found an old packet God knows how old, (at least 10 years methinks) stuffed at the back of a draw. Just out of daftness my dear old Dad broadcast them on the garden and was rewarded with a sea of parsnips..............

In olden days they used to use newspaper as underlay and when we lifted the carpet the papers had the headlines of the sinking of the Titanic...but thats another story.............

**chuckles** · 04-05-2009, 08:08 AM

Hi,
Its always worth giving them a go. Even if you don't get a high germination rate, any you do get will be better than wasting them.
This coming from someone who just bought a tray of parsnip seedling from the GC yesterday, I had never seen them as seedlings on sale before so i was well chuffed. Split a tray with my friend so got loads for 1.49 with half the work done. Well i am still learning

**lynda66** · 04-05-2009, 12:42 PM

i bought some packets from wilkies for 5p at the end of last year ....... started them all off on top of the boiler on wet kitchen roll before putting 5 in each in loo roll .... now have well over 100 parsnips growing :eek

they did take a good few weeks to germinate tho

**Hank_Hill** · 04-05-2009, 02:19 PM

Thanks for the replys,
10 years

, and me worring about year old seeds

going to plant them+ carrots out 2moro and hopefully I will be rewarded with plates of mashed carrot & Parsnip

**lynda66** · 04-05-2009, 02:24 PM

if you germinate them first you can then plant them carefully and you will know you're gonna get them

**Hank_Hill** · 04-05-2009, 02:34 PM

I was going to germinate them inside but I don't have empty rolls on hand, I usually hold on to empty mushroom packets to germinate other seeds like cabbage but I don't know if they'd be suitable for parsnip/carrot tape root?

**lynda66** · 04-05-2009, 02:52 PM

stick em between 2 layers of kitchen roll in a plastic tray, and as soon as they get a small root plant em out

they don't like root disturbance much but are fine till the root gets bigger as long as you're gentle

... plant them where you're gonna grow them

**Lottieval** · 04-05-2009, 05:14 PM

While we're on the subject of parsnips - following a thread on here I germinated mine in the airing cupboard, never done this before, now I have loads in loo rolls and paper tubes that have all got 2 leaves showing, how soon do I plant them on the lottie? Meanwhile those in the lottie bed have germinated so will have loads next winter, yummee, and OH doesn't like them!

**lynda66** · 04-05-2009, 05:58 PM

i put mine on top of boiler till they germinated, then stuck em in fibre pots left em on the outside windowsill then in the ground 2 weeks later .... at the beginning of february, they are fine

**Glutton4...** · 07-05-2009, 06:26 PM

Aaah goodie, a Parsnip thread!

I tried the wet kitchen paper in a plastic container method, and zilch! Nearly 200 seeds, and naff all happened even two months later. Then a friend gave me a packet of pre-germinated seeds (his family don't like Parsnips!) that he got free, so I hastily sowed them directly into my loo roll tubes.

The problem is, they've ALL germinated! Now, because I wasn't expecting a good result, I put two (sometimes three) seeds in each tube

. I hate waste, and can't bear to thin them out. Will they transplant ok? Can I plant them out, or should I grow them on in pots and give to friends and neighbours? Or, shall I just prick them out and bin them?

Cheers, in advance...

**TEB** · 07-05-2009, 06:54 PM

Originally posted by Lottieval View Post

While we're on the subject of parsnips - following a thread on here I germinated mine in the airing cupboard, never done this before, now I have loads in loo rolls and paper tubes that have all got 2 leaves showing, how soon do I plant them on the lottie? Meanwhile those in the lottie bed have germinated so will have loads next winter, yummee, and OH doesn't like them!

You would need to plant them out pretty quickly and before the root start popping out the bottom of you rolls.

**lynda66** · 07-05-2009, 10:02 PM

i used the little square fibre pots for mine .... and put 5 in each pot, then when they grow they push each other apart, so 3 in a toilet roll will be fine, it will rot down and they will have room ... occasionally they may try to cuddle each other tho but i only had 2 last year that did that

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