Parsnips... questioning the received wisdom.

[BigShot]

I'm starting to wonder about some of the taken-for-granted things we "know" about parsnips.

Chitting: I've done it this year, got fantastic germination rates and will be doing it again.
However, I also started some in a flat and they are looking great too. I didn't even see them coming up at first as everything around them blocked my view, so the roots are probably far too long to be any good now but the germination was great.
And this was with last year's seed too... which leads me to;

New seed every year: I ordered a new pack for sowing this year... but forgot about that and started off last year's pack without thinking.
The germination rate was pretty good. I sowed quite thickly (about 1/2" spacing) but they've come up at pretty regular intervals.


The above make me wonder if it's really necessary to try so hard with parsnips.
Is there a direct sowing method that should work and also gives little need for thinning?

I like minimum-labour (I go out of my way to avoid thinning wherever possible, for example) so if there's a way to just throw a load of seeds at the plot and not bother with trying to nudge them into action I'll be all over it.

[Dane End Dolly]

I sow mine in toilet roll tubes, i sow one seed per tube and after a bit i plant out the tubes, i can see where the seeds are so do not sow so many, if both seeds come up, i thin out one, if both seeds do not then i pop another 2 seeds in and wait and see. I find this does work well (and i often use seed a year old and still get good germination)

[chris]

I tried loads of things last year - easiest method for me? Direct sown, leave them to grow(they'll push each other apart - well mine did) - I thinned and eat the thinnings

I did start an experiement thread about it I think too

[Jono]

I'm doing mine all sorts of ways this year to try and work them out. I've planted old seeds, new seeds, chitting, direct old and direct new, in flower buckets etc etc. Bit geeky I know, but I'm interested to find out what works best.

I sometimes wonder whether the difficult to germinate thing comes from lots of us planting much too early to try and get a long growing season.

[Alison]

Never done anything apart from direct sowing, no hassle and works a treat. Just put a pinch of seeds at the required spacing in mid April. Wait a few weeks then thin as necessary if too many come through at each station then ignore until Christmas apart from a bit of weeding. Takes minutes and costs just the packet of seeds. Have replaced seeds each year though, may try not to next year if a germination test comes up well.

[jackie j]

Lottie neighbour uses a long dibber makes a hole, little compost, three seeds, more compost = parsnips every time.

[Bren In Pots]

I do 3 or 4 seeds in each loo roll they then get planted out as soon as I see a bit of green emerging, after a week or so I pinch out leaving just one seed.

[zazen999]

Just sow mid April, and put some sawdust over the line to keep the slugs off. Weed when the foliage is about 6inches tall; and again in Sept. That's about it!

[Snadger]

Sowed mine this week. Barrel with holes in bottom full of fine loam..seeds planted in stations 6 inches apart....3 to a station.........11 stations to barrel top........11 big nips come autumn.........probably!

[bethduckie]

Chrismarks, how long before you thinned?

[JamesM]

i've done three seeds into each loo roll and had a minimum of two per roll germinate. Coupled with a load i've sown direct- not exaclty sure on how many but not a huge amount- that have germinated well i'm pleased. Heard a lot of pessimistic/negative views on parsnip germination so i'm pretty chuffed with that

[binley100]

bulb planter, remove plug of soil, replace with compost (can't be arrised to pick over beds for stones) few seeds on each station........bob's yer uncle

[Nes]

I chitted the remainder of last years seeds on damp kitchen paper, sowed into loo rolls and then planted out as soon as the seedlings were up. Enough seeds germinated (though poss. not as high a rate as fresh), and I have perfectly spaced snips with no gaps. Bit of work, but works for me.

[solway cropper]

I grow most of mine in flower buckets with excellent results. Sow in March/April in greenhouse and put buckets outside when plants get to a decent size. This year I've used fresh seed, last year's seed, F1 and 'heritage' varieties, all with roughly the same results. Have never understood why some people have trouble with snips.

[SarzWix]

I've just pulled one up that had sown itself (ie I dropped it) in the compacted, weedy path on my allotment... I sow mine by drawing the dry lumpy surface soil off with the width of my hoe, water it, broadcast the seeds over it, then cover it with last year's tomato compost. If they can grow in the path, they'll grow anywhere...

Oh, and I don't thin. They're not daft, they'll shove each other out the way if they need more room...