Parsnips

Nearly Valentine's Day, and I'm thinking about parsnips....

Anyway this is the first time I'll be planting parsnips and there are two reasons for this; 1) Roast parsnips are delicious, 2) I wanted something that would be growing during the winter months when not a lot else is in the ground.

So off I went to find out about what I might expect, how to avoid mistakes and increase my chances of success. Forking - just what I need to avoid. Apparently this can occur by growing in very fertile (particularly well manured) soil, or in stony soil which causes the root to change direction and/or fork.

So first off, the beds I've chosen haven't been heavily composted so should be ok - not too rich. Also the soil in the beds has been dug over and has very few stones so I'm hoping I should be ok on the forked root front.

Next parsnip seeds do not keep - so I have a new pack ready and shall renew each season.

One thing I have read is that parsnips do not necessarily germinate well. So how do I avoid this as much as possible? Any ideas, do you have any tips and experience to share?

I did a bit of research and found 2 possible solutions; 'chitting' the seeds and planking.

Chitting
Chitting the parsnip seeds is basically putting them on damp tissue and making sure it doesn't dry out while the seeds get to the point of germinating. Keep the seeds in a moderately warm place. So I'll give this one a go and I'll also plant on into toilet roll tubes after they are chitted to try and give them a headstart indoors before planting out.

Planking
Planking involves putting a length of wood, say about 100mm wide on top of the seed drill after sowing to ensure the ground doesn't dry out in the first 3 weeks when germination takes place. Dry soil being the big factor to inhibiting germination. In theory, under the wood there will be no dryness. Keep the plank there and start checking for signs of germination from 20days onwards. So I'll give this one a go aswell - I don't have enough loo roll tubes for the lot! ;-)

I'll start probably next week on the chitting and week after sowing and planking - let's see what happens

Here are some reference URLs I have found that maybe useful;

Basic parsnip growing guidance
http://www.gardeningpatch.com/vegetable/growing-parsnip.aspx

More detail on the preparation and sowing
http://www.garden-grower.com/growing-vegetables/parsnip.shtml

Seed Chitting
http://deehaigh.co.uk/dee/allotment/growing-parsnips-my-way/
http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/medwyn-williams-vegetable-grow-show-138.html

Planking
http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/growing_show_vegetables_1/germinate-parsnip.php


Time flies............


Well valentines day came and went and the parsnips are now germinating - chitting is underway.

I have placed the seeds on a wet paper napkin in a plastic lunchbox about 6 days ago and left on the windowsill.

I shall be keeping a check each day, taking the lid off.

So far, not much sign of life yet, but maybe it is still early days, but will keep posted on progress.

A bit of luck I expect to pot up into the toilet roll tubes within the next week.