Kitchen Garden Forum

Planted parsnip seeds direct in the ground about three weeks ago and only one or two showing, am I expecting too much, should I spread some polythene over the seed bed to help em along? We have had a couple of ground frosts here in somerset over the last weekend..

For me, in Sussex, it is still a few weeks to early for parsnips.

And even then I sow under fleece to give them a bit of protection.

We used to grow them commercially on my parents farm in Devon and we fleeced the beds for 3 weeks prior to sowing in early april.

Jerry

Patience - they can take up to 6 weeks to germinate.
I sowed mine on 29th March and nothing showing yet.

Beryl.

OK thanks I will hang on there and sew some more as well, what about covering the seedbed after sewing to promote warmth, i have some polycarbonate sheeting and also some coldframes to use?

Personally I wouldn't bother. They should germinate in their own time without. If you cover the seed bed you will have to watch for keeping them watered and this can create a crust on the top for the seedlings to struggle through. They are quite hardy little fellows. Sow and leave well alone would be my advice.

Beryl.

It's ok they have germinated without any extra help from me at all.

Nice to see!!

I'm really, really smug. I sowed parsnips along with some early carrots under fleece on 18th Feb. and they're all through today (may have been for a couple of days, hadn't checked since Wednesday) excellent germination rate too. This is the first thing that's really gone right for me so far this season and I'm ridiculously pleased!

Hi,
I would concur with the ones who say leave them and they will be fine in time. Isprinkle a few radish seeds along the row when I planty my parsnips sp I know where they are. When the radish have been harvested the parsnips are usually ready for thinning. Ive just had my last ones from last year -beautiful!!

Happy days

BP