I'm a thinning wimp!

[Keith2202]

I don't like thinning either, seems such a waste, I hope things will grow anyway even if they are crowded!

Having read on here that parsnip seeds show poor germination after a year, I sowed all the seeds I had remaining from a packet last year not expecting many to germinate. Suffice to say lots did and I now have loads of parsnips growing presumably too close to each other. Is there such a thing as harvesting "baby parsnips" then letting the rest get bigger?

I don't know why I don't want to chuck some in the compost as I don't even really like parsnips apart from in juices or soups!

[gojiberry]

I'm with the module brigade, but only started doing it this year. Still got to learn that it is only one seed per module. Sowed a couple of lots of kale 2 seeds per module and ended up having to transplant into individual pot as all the seed came through and needed splitting. (another one who can't throw good plants away)

Ian

[Edwardo82]

I transplant them all as well, I hate the idea of throwing anything away.

[basketcase]

When I've actually achieved a growing plant , then there is no way it's being removed and chucked away!!!...nope- I just thin out by cropping some things earlier than nec

I could have written this

[FoxHillGardener]

... I don't even really like parsnips apart from in juices or soups!

Parsnips in juice? really? I can't decide if I like the sound of that or not. I suppose carrots work...are parsnips as sweet?

[lynda66]

I sow thinly in the first place (2 or 3 seeds, at the correct spacing) ... I hate thinning out, waste of energy (and seed)

see i do that, but then when all 3 come up i remove the other 2 and put them somewhere else

[SarzWix]

I'm finally getting the hang of being a bit ruthless, but only with things like salads and brassicas I don't pull them up, just nip the tops off. But it's the first year of me growing celery and I sowed far too many thinking they wouldn't all work, and now have 40 little celery plants in fibre pots Celery plant anyone?!

[Squizz]

As this is my first year I thought thinning would be one of those things I'll have to learn to do without feeling like a murderer but after reading all your posts it would seem I may always feel this way!

[FoxHillGardener]

I reckon the sowing thinly thing is one of the hardest things to do. I really have to try hard to resist the urge to chuck just a few more in for luck as they look so sparse. You have to try to visualise each tiny seed as a full sized plant and think how crowded they'd all be when grown. And then still have to thin of course

[Keith2202]

Parsnips in juice? really? I can't decide if I like the sound of that or not. I suppose carrots work...are parsnips as sweet?

Yes parsnips are sweet. Their juice is quite creamy too, a bit like milk strangely, so they do work well in juices.

I often mix with carrot juice, then use the pulp of the parsnip and carrot to make soup out of with some chilli wacked in.

That is pretty much my only use for all these parsnips I am growing!

[tamsin]

If I'm sowing two seeds in a pot, which I do sometimes just cos it saves space, then I stick a bit of plastic in to split the pot in half. Just a bit of milk carton or packaging cut to a rectangle to slot in the centre of the pot. Then if only one germinates I pull it out and it gets the whole pot, if two germinate when I pot up the soil splits neatly into two halves and the roots haven't inter twinned

[FoxHillGardener]

ok, you've convinced me to give it a try. just need the parsnips to get on with their growing

Yes parsnips are sweet. Their juice is quite creamy too, a bit like milk strangely, so they do work well in juices.

I often mix with carrot juice, then use the pulp of the parsnip and carrot to make soup out of with some chilli wacked in.

That is pretty much my only use for all these parsnips I am growing!

[indigox]

Hmm, parsnip juice sounds interesting!
I'm not sure I'll have enough spare as I sowed them quite thinly, but at least most have germinated.