Parsnip Germination

[Chantal]

I've been trying to pre-germinate parsnip seed on damp kitchen roll etc etc. Having used up two packets of Hollow Crown, one pack of Tender & True and another pack of Gladiator, I ended up with a total of 25 Tender & True germinated seeds. That was it. I left them for over a month, didn't let them dry out, kept them slightly warm, all fresh seed, but the germination was crap.

In desperation I bought a packet of Palace F1 (Johnson's) and over the past week have planted 116 germinated seeds with what looks like all of the remainder swelling nicely. If this carries on I'll have 100% germination, I simply can't believe it! I treated them exactly like all the others but the difference is phenomenal. I know which seed I'll be buying next year.

[oldherbaceous]

Thats very interesting Chantal, just goes to show why people have a job to get them to germinate outside, when the germination rate was that bad growing them inside under relatively controlled conditions.

Glad your Palace F1 seeds were a success.

[Johnboy]

Hi Chantal,
I feel that this shows the vibrancy of F1 seeds.
I have just, very successfully, reared 90 White Gem with about 10 failures. They may not be failures but they have failed to produce any signs of a radicle and have been scrapped. I have yet to sow my F1 Countess and will probably do so later on today.
I didn't put a date on the White Gem but they have been there for only about 12 days. With the F1 Countess I will mark the calender.
JB.

[Chantal]

The Palace F1 started germinating after 8 days and I planted out another 4 this morning.

[Primrose]

I've had about 70% germination with White Gem from last year's seed using the wet tissue method. I probably would have had more but went away for 4 days over Easter & my second batch of seeds germinated this way dried out in the loo rolls. However, I soaked them thoroughly on my return and believe it or not, over half of them have now sprouted. However, I might try Palace next spring if I can find some. I will also, as an experiment, see if I can debunk the myth about not using old parnship seed and see if I can get my existing packet of two year old White Gem to germinate using the tissue method

[retropants]

My parnsip seed (SoI, not sure which variety, but it's the only one they do) have been sitting snugly in damp tissue on the sunny bathroom windowsill for about 3 weeks now, and zip, nothing, nowt. How long do I wait before starting again?

[Chantal]

Personally I'd nip out to Wilkinsons and get some Palace F1 and run them alongside. The SoI ones may yet germinate but you don't want to miss the boat.

[Chantal]

OK, stupid question time.

In my greenhouse I now have loads of pots, filled with toilet/kitchen roll tubes in which the germinated parsnip seeds are planted. The first batch are now coming through.

Can I put the pots out in a little temporary greenhouse straight away? I know they're supposed to be grown straight into the soil but it seems all wrong putting the pots straight out.

I need reassurance here.

Can someone please reassure me that it will be OK?

[Monika]

My Countess and Student took about 10 days to germinate with about 80% germination. They are now in rootrainers but I notice that not all of them have survived the transfer from paper to soil, I would think about 10% have not come through - yet. There is still hope, I suppose.

[oldherbaceous]

Well i'm going to be sowing mine directly outside at the weekend, weather permitting.
I will be station sowing them and normally have very good success, so i suppose now i've said that i will be sowing twice this year.

[Primrose]

Chantal - I planted out my first batch of seedlings in loo rolls into the garden last week. They were less than an inch tall and have survived several nights of frost and Sunday's heavy snowfall.

[Chantal]

Thanks Primrose, but I think they may be warmer in the ground than in pots in the air (so to speak). I can't plant them out as most haven't shown their heads yet but I want to get them into the unheated temporary greenhouse. They will be covered but I'm wondering if I should wrap the pots in bubble pack or something as they may get icy cold. Or should I keep them in the unheated greenhouse or in the heated greenhouse?

[Johnboy]

Hi Chantal,
If the staging of your greenhouse is slatted then you may get a problem from cool air from below.
It is for this reason that I cover the benches with expanded polystyrene 2" thick but an 1" thick would probably do.
I have germinated Parsnip seed twixt moist kitchen paper and planted, straight out into the soil as they have germinated, into the row and I think I lost about 4 in 90 planted out.
I do not think with open pollinated Parsnip seed that it is possible to get 100% germination as I suspect a great many miss fertilization.
Parsnips are surprisingly hardy. They are said to commence germination as low as 2C, at which temperature ground frosts can occur.
I hasten to add that I have never tried to germinate at that temperature.
JB.

[Chantal]

Thanks JB, I'll find some insulation. I may have trouble finding expanded polystyrene but I'm sure I can improvise.

It's not so cold as it was either so I'll give it a go.

[Tigger]

Mine have finally germinated after 3 weeks on the bathroom windowsill, so I'll be getting the tweezers out tonight to place each little beauty in it's paper pot. So far, it looks about 50% success (Albion F1). I think I'll start off something else this weekend, maybe Palace.