Thanks very much once again to all the latest contributors to my parsnip dilemma. So, according to Allotment Boy it sounds like I should forget that 4x stuff. And on reflection, as I am in the East Midlands, I have probably been sewing them way too early - but that's my over enthusiasm! So, this year I'll be patient and wait till late May, early June and see how things go then. It's all trial and error isn't it!?
I black plastic the area to be sown from February and then from early April I use a clear cloche - these both warm the soil which is the best way to ensure good germination,
I sow under cover in late April in a drill filled about 1.5-2 inches deep with sieved soil - it helps stop forking on my clay/stony ground, cloche comes off in May and I just weed from then until I start harvesting in mid November
I usually sow 'Gladiator' in late April or May, whenever the weather forecast shows nice temps for a week or so. Once they have germinated, they are pretty tough but sowing them (or anything else) in my EM clay is a no-no, so they are sown about 1/2" deep in a shallow (2" deep) trench which has been backfilled with old compost. This helps keep the seeds a bit warmer and off of the wet clay, resulting in good germination and excellent crops.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Sounds a really good idea to cover the area with plastic to warm the soil first. I'll give that a try.
Also, I have sown Gladiator seeds before, but without any success at all, despite the really good soil I have here on my little plot. But I will try again this year. I'm now convinced that I was just far too premature with my sowing and should have waited till late April or early June.
I can’t see any advantage in trying to get in quick and sow early, I sow mine on the 1st June, picking big parsnips mid November. Obviously works for some people, not for others, why risk it.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
You need to watch out for slugs Nikki, they’ll have the shoots off as soon as they pop up, once they’ve grown bigger they don’t bother with them. I sow the parsnips at the same time I plant the runner beans out.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Sowing in normal way, kitchen window, along with the tomatoes, they are coming up, they do take a long time to germinate though, up till 28 days, so you have to me patient. I have Garden News every week, chap in there said to sow on damp kitchen paper, then plant but I had already put them into compost when I read that.
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I start saving toilet roll centers in August and need about sixty to make a double row in the allotment
Thanks very much once again to all the latest contributors to my parsnip dilemma. So, according to Allotment Boy it sounds like I should forget that 4x stuff. And on reflection, as I am in the East Midlands, I have probably been sewing them way too early - but that's my over enthusiasm! So, this year I'll be patient and wait till late May, early June and see how things go then. It's all trial and error isn't it!?
Nikki 7
Thanks Treehugger80 and BobTheGardener
Sounds a really good idea to cover the area with plastic to warm the soil first. I'll give that a try.
Also, I have sown Gladiator seeds before, but without any success at all, despite the really good soil I have here on my little plot. But I will try again this year. I'm now convinced that I was just far too premature with my sowing and should have waited till late April or early June.
Thanks again
Obviously works for some people, not for others, why risk it.
Thanks Lyn
The 1st June it will be. I'll be looking forward to some big parsnips November time.
Nikki7
I sow the parsnips at the same time I plant the runner beans out.