I have sown a shop bought packet and seeds that I got from own plant from last year. All the shop bought have come up - not a single one of my own has, so have had to buy more shop bought ones (which isnt easy in France!). I just soak my seeds in a cup of water overnight before planting, that does the job fine.
Have also found that the root disturbance thing isnt really the problem its made out to be. I have this aversion to throwing any of my parsnips away when I thin them so replant them on elsewhere and theyre always fine with this and carrying on growing no probs
