what is it with Parsnips?

[Andy Hamilton]

just taken this quote from another thread.

don't mention parsnips...I've put 7 ( yes SEVEN) packets of seeds in and none have come up.

I planted a packet of parsnips this year and none came up, the old fella on the allotment next to mine planted loads and has done for the last 40 years on the same plot of land he has had 7 or some come up. I have heard from loads of people that parsnips have just not grown this year. Is this the same for everyone and why?

[chadspad]

I have planted a few packets without much luck too - I have the sum total of 1 parsnip growing! I even put them on my windowsill to grow, which they did, then tried to plant them out - this didnt work either!

[Millymollymandy]

OK everyone I think we should all NAME THE VARIETY. Cos I have had years where nothing came up either.

What doesn't grow for me:- Demi Longue de Guernesey

What is growing happily (but not every seed germinates) is:- Gladiator (and I opened the pack last year).

[Andy Hamilton]

damb I don't have the packet anymore - er wilkinsons

good point M3 must look into what is suposed to thrive the best with my conditions.

[chadspad]

I bought 2 packs of 300 seeds of White Gem from someone on Ebay. Apart from 1 plant & had no others come up. I have no reason to doubt his seeds as I bought other types of veg seeds and they all grew fine.

Unfortunately I dont have the variety of the others I planted.

I got about 6 parsnips last year out of a whole packet - thats a huge improvement on this year.

I did read somewhere tho that unless u plant parsnips in feb/mar, u can forget tehm coming up - must try to find that article again.
M3, maybe u have just been extremely lucky if that is the case!

[chadspad]

Have searched the net for site with info on growing parsnips and most of them have said to sow in Feb/March (including the factsheet on SSish!). The others have said late spring should be OK and one said they sowed in April and that was fine. The same site has said that variety Avonresister didnt germinate in 2003, so maybe its a common thing with parsnips.

[kevin m.]

Parsnips ARE tricky-we have a grand total of THREE coming up.
Then again thats THREE more than last year!

[Luath]

I have a good healthy looking row across one small square bed, but at least they are growing this year. Not the easiest of things, in my experience.

[Millymollymandy]

Yes, funny old things. They either germinate or they don't!

I don't know whether it is my soil or what. At my previous house, the first time I tried parsnips, they all germinated and grew well. After that, I never got a single one to germinate ever again!!

[albert onglebod]

Ive got mine in a little raised bed I made from breeze blocks.They are all coming up like thunder.Dont know what I did that might be different but it's probably beginners luck and I'll never manage it again.
I dug deep,composted,added the mud on top.About 3 months later(Feb) I sowed the seeds and covered with plastic like a cloche. At about the end of march they were coming through and I sowed a few more in the bare bits. I'll probably dig em up this winter and find they are all leaf and no root or have been eaten from below or something.
They are Wilko's Little Gem.

[hedgewizard]

Planted Avonresister on April 11th and watered nightly for about three weeks, then up they came. Incidentally parsnip seeds are notoriously slow and weak germinators, you normally expect about a quarter of them to make it. The seeds also have to be bought fresh each year as germination rates drop off quickly.

A friend of mine saved seed to plant next year (a heritage variety I think) and was horrified to find out that his germination rate went right up to about 95% so he had lots of thinning to do!

[diver]

I planted gladiator as well as several other varieties on a deep bed that had not been composted this year but had loads of the stuff last year. I gave them potash and potassium...and what did I get, ....really big, healthy WEEDS!!!!

[Millymollymandy]

The seeds also have to be bought fresh each year as germination rates drop off quickly.

I have the same germination rate as last year - 80% for the April sowing, then about 50% for the June sowing (filling in the gaps and a new row). So far zilch for July (filling in the gaps of the June sowing)! Perhaps it is too hot now.

[hedgewizard]

That's really good - how are you storing them?

[Andy Hamilton]

Have searched the net for site with info on growing parsnips and most of them have said to sow in Feb/March (including the factsheet on SSish!).

yep one of daves articles, he does not seem to have any trouble growing them.