No wonder parsnip is a swear word

[HayleyB]

BLADDY PARSNIPS, I actually have some that have germinated and maybe, just maybe will have enough for a couple of weeks maybe a months worth of roast dinners - at one roast a week........... all that blood sweat and tears..........

[grannymem]

Talk about beginners' luck! I knew parnips were hard to get going and gave up when the ones I carefully sowed and put in a propogator didn't do anything. I chucked a few seeds on to the tiny bed I'd made in front of the greenhouse and forgot about them. I now have very healthy plants about a foot high and growing away nicely.

The only trouble is, I don't suppose the beginners' luck will last for next year.

[leicestershirelass]

This is my second year of trying to grow parsnips .. so have to admit defeat!

I read that having a warm bed aids germination, but not willing to share with them ... lol. Seriously though, I did cover area with fleece before sowing seeds and weather has been warm, so what's the problem?

Will now plant something less temperamental.

[Dane End Dolly]

This is my first year of growing parsnips and i am so proud as they are notoriously difficult. I sowed my seeds in toilet rolls (2 per roll) and then planted them out so if anything did not pop up, i would know about it and replace with alternatives, well all i can say is that i was weeding out the smaller seedling from most of the rolls and only had 3 not show through and they are now about 10" high.

All i can say is good things come to those who wait

[leicestershirelass]

This is my first year of growing parsnips and i am so proud as they are notoriously difficult. I sowed my seeds in toilet rolls (2 per roll) and then planted them out so if anything did not pop up, i would know about it and replace with alternatives, well all i can say is that i was weeding out the smaller seedling from most of the rolls and only had 3 not show through and they are now about 10" high.

All i can say is good things come to those who wait

Well done Dolly .... no chance for me now that I've outed the lot! What a good idea to use toilet rolls so can identify where they should be .. maybe give them another go next year ... who knows maybe 3rd time lucky ....

[Brengirl]

Just to add insult to injury I have a few great ones that I have carefully nurtured but in every other pot in the garden I have bladdy parsnips popping up. It seems the harder you treat them the better they like it.

[TallGirl]

It seems the harder you treat them the better they like it.

Oh yeah. I sowed a whole row early on lovingly-prepared fine-tilled earth under little individual cloche thingies - no signs of life for months and months. I chitted a few on kitchen paper (and they took an age to germinate) and transplanted them - even fewer signs of life. I threw my hands in the air and planted them out perfectly normally, but much later, and they seem to be germinating at last.

That is the last time I ever give p*nips special treatment.