Parsnips germinating again

[ken]

Gues what happened here? I sowed some two-year old Tender and True seed in the ground when I thought it had warmed up enough. A few germinated and were promptly grazed off (slugs?). So then I reverted to my usual practice and sowed some mor from the same packet in Rootrainers. Nothing happened, so we concluded old seed was the problem. On Wednesday, T'Other Half bought a fresh packet of seed. That afternoon, I spotted the first seedling coming up in the Rootrainers, and by yesterday there was almost 100% germination. So, you see, buying fresh seed does do the trick, even if the packet remains unopened.

[Bren]

In 2007 I left a couple of parsnips in the ground to go to seed, I collected some and sowed it last year 2008 some on kitchen paper and some in toilets rolls nothing germinated but this year where the seeds fell on the ground parsnip seedlings are coming up all over the place I will leave some there and see if they will be any good.
Bren

[Johnboy]

Hi Ken,
What never ceases to amaze me is the amount of people who, after repeated warnings on this forum about the viability of old Parsnip seeds, continue to sow them! With Parsnips even if you do manage to germinate them the plants generally lack the required vigour. So why sow them! They are simply bad news. For the small cost of a packet of seed they are prepared to jeopardize their whole Parsnip production. I simply do not get it!
I fell into the trap many years ago and came unstuck. I managed to germinate old seed but the results were pitiful by comparison to the previous year. Since then I have always used fresh seed and generally do quite well with them.
JB.

[ken]

Thanks, Johnboy. I'll see what happens with this lot, and may even sow a few from the new packet as a safeguard. Next year I'll heed your advice. But you know how it is - you buy a packet. amd get enough seed for a field...And I keep my seed in faily ideal conditions, in a box in the fridge. All the best, K

[Parsons Jack]

After last years disaster, I took Chantal's advice and bought Palace this year. 4 rows sowed and 4 rows germinated. I know what I'll be sowing next year again