Parsnip seeds

[dave45]

In the 2006 season my parsnips bolted and went to seed. I've just found the seeds I saved... what are the chances that they will germinate this year?

and further to this - is there any table/info/resources that has evidential data on how long seeds from different veggies last?

ISTR smth in the Grauniad a few weeks ago about a project to evaluate this sort of thing that was started 130 years ago and is still running.... I'd be happy with good data on seedlife up to 5 or 10 years !

[becks77]

Wow, ran to seed heh ,my parsnips are on the windowsill, I'm trying them this way round this year as had noooooo luck last, Perhaps if you tried to chit them then you could keep a close eye on them. My neighbour reckons about three weeks for a parsnip to chit in this manner,
Best of luck

[dave45]

mmm - I was actually asking about seed life... I had no idea you could "chit" a parsnip... I hate the things personally, and only grow them for the 2 members of my family that love them. And coz they are cold-climate veggies so shouldn't be too difficult!

[becks77]

Oh ,sorry misinterpreted....life of parsnip seed not really sure after all that, sorry

[Elizabeth]

Parsnip seeds have a short life span. Most packets recommend you use them within a few months.

If you want to try and see if any will germinate without wasting a lot of time put them on damp kitchen roll, or similar, keep warm and in the light (during the day!). Don't forget that they take a long time to germinate.

Here's a pic of some I sowed earlier!

[Shirley]

No idea - but would be interested to know as I've got some old seed too.

[Millymollymandy]

First year I was here - new packet of seeds and nearly all my parsnips germinated.
2nd year - same packet -there were gaps in the rows
3rd year - same packet - only about 3 seeds germinated.
4th year - new packet of seeds and nearly all germinated!

Then I read about buying new packets each year!!!

However this year (my 5th, goodness me!) I'm using 2nd year parsnip seeds, which I've just sown outdoors and will resow in the gaps. Next year I'll buy a new packet of seed.

[Odsox]

I had no idea you could "chit" a parsnip...

That's exactly what I'm doing this year.
Last year my parsnips just didn't germinate until the middle of the summer for some obscure reason and I ended up with useless parsnips smaller than young carrots. As we both love parsnips ... could eat roast parsnips every day, I decided on a different approach this year.
The seeds were sprinkled on damp kitchen roll and then put in the fridge for 10 days, taken out last Sunday, put in a warm room and the first ones sprouted yesterday. I then pot them up in loo roll tubes that I have been saving all year (as parsnips detest having their roots disturbed) and the whole lot, tubes and all will be planted later. Several more need doing today .....

Parsnip.jpg (51.2 KiB) Viewed 4035 times

A lot of extra work, but it's been over a year since I ate a parsnip, so I think it's well worth the effort.

[becks77]

In the fridge eh? off I go

[Odsox]

In the fridge eh? off I go

Yeah, maybe a waste of time but I remember reading somewhere that parsnips germinate better when they have gone through a cold period.
Makes sense I suppose as it would stop self sown seeds from germinating in a warm autumn.
On the other hand it could be a load of tosh

[Shirley]

I'll do that with half of my parsnip seeds and do the others as normal - will see if there is any difference. Thanks.

[Annpan]

I got some parsnip seeds as part of a swap on here - I don't know how old they are...

I popped them in the freezer overnight, then on damp kitchen towel on my livingroom heater (I have used the heater to propogate this year for all my seeds, with a great success rate) but they have been sitting there for at least 2 weeks now and show no signs of life whatsoever...

I love parsnips, maybe I'll get a new packet, there should still be time, right?

[dave45]

wow - I see that there are some parsnip lovers out there!

I'll try the kitchen roll idea I think

[Odsox]

I love parsnips, maybe I'll get a new packet, there should still be time, right?

Plenty of time Ann.
Sow parsnips too early and you risk getting a bad attack of canker, so any time between now and the middle of April is ideal.

[Shirley]

interesting! I guess we (north east scotland) should wait a little longer yet then.