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Parsnip seeds planted too early?

eyeball_kideyeball_kid Posts: 13
in Fruit & veg
Hi all,

I’m a first time parsnip grower and I followed the advice on the packet and planted my tender and true seeds in my raised bed in mid March. After doing some reading it sounds like I may have gone a bit early. Do you think the seeds will be ok?

thanks!

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I sow mine on the 1st June,  just after I put the runner beans out,  you might be warmer where you,  I know a lot of people sow them early.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • PlashingPlashing Posts: 328
    Parsnip seeds take a long time to germinate. I have just sown mine today in the greenhouse in toilet roll filled with multi purpose compost, if you happen to have some fleece I would cover them to warm the soil, they always used to say sow them in February but now a days you can sow them later.
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    You could cover them with fleece or a pane of glass, and be very patient... and there are some ideas here I found helpful: https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1050683/parsnip-germination-tips#latest

  • eyeball_kideyeball_kid Posts: 13
    Thanks all, as it happens I sowed the seeds in the raised bed that I built a cold frame for so it’s been down with only a crack open for ventilation for the last couple of weeks and only been open during the day on the last week or so, so maybe all is not lost!!
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    My initial thought would be that, in Nature, seeds would have fallen at the end of last season, ready to germinate when conditions were suitable so I wouldn't worry?
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    They will be fine, I expect, but slow to germinate so be patient
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • windy.99windy.99 Posts: 1
    I start my parsnip seeds off in March. I put kitchen towel flat in a seed tray and wet it, then I put the seeds on it, keep them moist in a warm place and as they start germinating move the ones that have germinated to 40 celled seed trays of compost to grow on before planting out. This ensures only germinated seeds produce a full row of parsnips, works every time!
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