Kitchen Garden Forum

I`m using root trainers for the first time for some of my parsnips. i put 2 seeds per trainer and most have only got one germinated in each, some have none and some have 2. With the 2 ones should i take one out (grieves me to chuck away parsnip seedings when i struggle to germinate them)and leave the healthiest?Or should i try to serparate the 2 seedlings when i open up the root trainers to plant them out?
help and advice needed
Seedling

I suppose it depends whether Parsnips resent being pricked-out like this (can anyone else advise?).

I'd have thought it wouldn't work very well to try & separate more mature plants from the rootrainers later on, as their roots may have intertwined. Better to try & transfer the 2nd sprouting seed as soon as possible, then:
- sow fresh seed in any modules you decide have failed
- add a fresh seed alongside the transplanted seedling, in case it doesn't survive.

Finally, you sometimes get the situation with root trainers that you have mixed batches of seeds, or ones at different stages of development. If you find your sprouted ones are spread between different "booklets", you may wish to make sure similar ones end up in the same set. That way, if you end up with two batches that are several weeks apart, you can plant the first lot more easily and leave the rest to mature at their own rate.

Whilst you can theoretically take a plant from a single cell & leave the rest, you then have an empty one that could be doing something useful.

Good luck Seedling - I find Roottrainers really useful (we're not organised enough to be able to use loo roll inners!!)

Thanks Colin
I think i will take the smaller ones out and try to replant them. They will probably die but its worth a shot
Seedling