Parsnips have quite elongated seed leaves, then the first true leaf starts as a perfect tiny version of the familiar leaf we all know
Spent hours today weeding between rows. Parsnips do take a while to show which can mean the weeds get a hold. These were sown 16 April. It was hard to really see if I had any until I got to ground level with my reading glasses on!
Generally parsnips are kind to me, usually have home grown for Christmas dinner.
Only time I've had them fail was trying to sow early February/March as it says on some seed packets. It was years later I found out that is OK if they are under cloches. That seems a bit of a faff and as I prefer them after plenty of frosts, I sow mid April in Essex.
BTW I forgot the cat squirters were on when I went out to get the pictures, I got soaked, so I hope the pictures are useful
Lynn! I have been looking for your post for the last 10 days/2 weeks. I bought a new packet of Guernsey Parsnips at local supplier in early March. I sowed them one by one in a stony clay soil. I thought I would be careful and just sowed around 20 seeds along with some fennel and turnips (new packets). All have come up - only 9 parsnips so I decided a couple of weeks ago to do the same. The turnips have surfaced - but no parsnips or fennel to date. Then I saw someone's post (Lynn?) about planting parsnips this way - and it's very logical! I will try again in a month or so - early June. Pending....
Next time you sow them try sowing some radishes with them because the radishes will be up before the parsnip emerge then you will be able identify your rows,also hopefully you will be harvesting the radishes before the parsnips plants are too big.I have sown a row of salad corn next to mine as well as a row of radishes and a row of carrots all under plastic and they all have emerged within a week of one another.I did keep them watered once a week mainly in the morning and not at night because the nights have been on the cold side and at present there seems to be a good germination. Regards Peter.
I must be the only person who has no trouble with parsnips. I direct sowed Gladiator in mid April from a 2 year old packet of seed. Every single one germinated successfully in less than 2 weeks. Same thing every year (except the seeds are newer!). I don't even over sow any more because they are so reliable for me.
I do use a depth of fresh compost though, maybe that's the difference.
I endorse everything Lyn says. If you've got a good solid crow bar it'll be a better tool for making the holes and I usually make mine about 15 inches deep because I grow 'Gladiator' variety which are ginormous. If you can make the holes about 4 inches wide at ground level, I'd place 5-6 seeds around each before covering them over. This isn't extravagant because the amount you get in a packet is more than generous and I doubt you'll use them all.
One of the key things that I'm not sure has been mentioned, is keeping them moist at all times. As they take 2 -3 weeks to show it is easy to forget to water them. There must be a lot of parsnips germinate but never see the light of day because of lack of moisture. It's something they are known to be prone to.
Posts
Spent hours today weeding between rows. Parsnips do take a while to show which can mean the weeds get a hold. These were sown 16 April. It was hard to really see if I had any until I got to ground level with my reading glasses on!
Generally parsnips are kind to me, usually have home grown for Christmas dinner.
Only time I've had them fail was trying to sow early February/March as it says on some seed packets. It was years later I found out that is OK if they are under cloches. That seems a bit of a faff and as I prefer them after plenty of frosts, I sow mid April in Essex.
BTW I forgot the cat squirters were on when I went out to get the pictures, I got soaked, so I hope the pictures are useful
I do use a depth of fresh compost though, maybe that's the difference.