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June - is it too late to sow parsnip seeds?

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 6:31 pm
by Daveswife
Is it too late to sow parsnip seeds now? I just found the unopened packet of seeds which I should have planted earlier but they were overlooked.

Re: June - is it too late to sow parsnip seeds?

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 7:37 pm
by Primrose
Well I would give it a go. I find them very slow to germinate but it,s warmer now so you might get a quicker germination and still get a reasonable crop of small roots. Depends of course how old the packet of seed is. They do say use fresh seed every year but I,ve sown seed which is two years old with moderate success.
I believe in trying to break all the rules. Sometimes it,s surprising how often you can get away with things and anyway most of the instructions on packets are only guidelines. I,ve just sown some antirhynims today, well after the recommended sowing time recommended on the packet but I might be lucky !

Re: June - is it too late to sow parsnip seeds?

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2018 6:49 am
by oldherbaceous
The Parsnips won't be huge but, still of a useable size when harvested....

Re: June - is it too late to sow parsnip seeds?

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 9:18 am
by Daveswife
Thanks very much. The seeds are this year's so I'll sow some today. In fact, I'll do it right now.

Re: June - is it too late to sow parsnip seeds?

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 11:11 am
by paulw60
good luck, have tried three new packets without success this year, don't know what has gone wrong. Am now going against all instruction and sowing trays then transplant. fingers crossed.

Re: June - is it too late to sow parsnip seeds?

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 2:10 pm
by Primrose
I doubt whether much sown in this extreme heat will have survived unless the soil has been kept constantly moist.

Re: June - is it too late to sow parsnip seeds?

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 11:29 pm
by Daveswife
Despite my enthusiasm and "I'll go and do it now" comment, I never did set those parsnip seeds. And a good job I didn't because as Primrose says, this extreme heat and drought will have put paid to any little seedlings! Here in Nottingham we have not had rain since May 30th. The heat has been relentless but the evenings are cooler and night temperature means we can get some sleep. But oh, the garden needs rain.

Re: June - is it too late to sow parsnip seeds?

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 8:08 pm
by Cider Boys
I sowed my parsnips and leeks very late due to weather and idleness and have just come in from hoeing them up. Poor germination and weak growth, they had to go. This will be the first time in nearly 50 years that I haven't grown leeks unless I reluctantly see if I can buy some young plants.