Parsnips Germination Question

[mrdinkle]

I have been germinating some parsnip seeds between a couple of moist kitchen roll sheets inside a plastic bag. I am planning on putting them in loo rolls

The seeds have started to open - no sign of any greenery yet.

How big should they be before I move them from the kitchen roll to the tubes?

I love parsnips so don't want to mess up this delicate operation!

[Two_Sheds]

The purpose of putting them on kitchen towel is to see if the seed is viable - as the seeds are "opening" it would certainly seem to be viable.
Now you need to sow them into your old loo rolls, PDQ.

[mrdinkle]

Cool, gonna be moving them on after dinner! Ta!

[spud57]

When do you plant out then? Do you leave them inside the loo rolls?

[mrdinkle]

I have put some in loo rolls and the rest in homemade paper pots (I plan to open up bottom when planted). I've put mine in the greenhouse for now. I *think* I will be waiting til they are pencil size before they go outside.

Though judging by the weather forecast they might be coming back to daddy in doors tonight!

[Headfry]

I too am growing my parsnips in paper pots, I think the pots I make will have rotted down quite well by planting time. I have sown 2 seeds to a pot and will remove the weaker one.
I did the toilet roll method last year and they were fine, and grew huge -till the ginger mice ate them!!!

[Matt.]

Don't wait until they get pencil size. Ideally you want to get them transplanted to the final position before roots come through the base so no disturbance.

[mrdinkle]

I read the pencil size thing on another thread on this forum

I will makesure it is before thems roots break through the bottom. Seeds ave only just germinated so will be a while yet emums.

Cetainly hope mine are huge like yours headfry!

[mrdinkle]

I am being retarded, I was thinking about LEEKS!

My parsnips will be planted long before they are pencil size - too long sat at this dexk today me thinks!

[Two_Sheds]

Do you leave them inside the loo rolls?

Yes. The point of growing parsnips and carrots in loo rolls (instead of cell trays/pots) is because they can't tolerate root disturbance.
By putting the whole loo roll straight in the ground, t'parsnip doesn't even know it has moved house

[spud57]

Ok thanks, Two Sheds! are there any other veg that would benefit from no root disturbance? I have a paper potter but the end result pot seems small and Im not sure if the seedling could stay in it long enough before putting direct into the ground....

[emmahip]

I've been religiously collecting loo rolls for months now - will definitely be using some for my parsnips, peas and broad beans.

Very heavy frost down in our neck of the woods (South Wales) at the moment though...

[mrdinkle]

Yup it is brrrr here in wales land.