parsnips in cigarette papers!

[isabella]

In Garden News this week one of the letters suggested putting 2 or 3 parsnip seeds in a cigarette paper, twisting it into a thingy like the salt in crisp pkts and planting it

Very good germination apparently

I expect most of you don't remember salt in crisps like that,do you? I am very old and I do!

[skarloey]

I know them Pam...... they re-introduced them a few years ago! ;D
The little blue packet?

I might give the fag paper thing a try...... I must beat GH in the longest parsnip competition! ;D

[isabella]

We usually grow 2 rows of Parsnips so I think I might give it a go on one row as an experiment!

[Deleted]

Skarloey - Are we doing parsnips as well

[lottielady]

I'll give it a go too Pam - I didn't have one seed germinate last year. The soil is much better on lottie 2 so I am hoping to have more luck this year.

LLx

[skarloey]

gardenhammerette said:

Skarloey - Are we doing parsnips as well

I thought it was all of them!!!!! ;D

[skarloey]

Although having said that, the Pumpkin seeds LL sent aren't going to win! They are mini pumpkins! ;D Very cute too.

[lottielady]

You might win the tiniest pumpkin competion though Skarloey!

LLx

[mickthecactus]

My parsnip germination was virtually nil as well last year.

[Chuckles]

isabella said:

I expect most of you don't remember salt in crisps like that,do you? I am very old and I do!

I remember them too isabella, the first time round

[4pygmies]

I know you don't like using loo roll tubes but last year it worked really well for with growing parsnips. I always have trouble germinating in the drills outside so I tried the tubes and the pregerminating on wet kitchen roll techniques. The tubes were in my conservatory and did really well but the kitchen roll ones were useless. I had really good parsnips last year because I could plant them straight out in the tubes when they were well grown and no gaps in the rows which always grieves me! Biggest I've ever managed.

[blackrose]

Would this fag paper trick work for other seeds, like roses etc

And I also remember "salt n shake" crisps, they're still on the go though not quite the same now

[isabella]

I bought a pkt of cigarette papers from Sainsburys today - 30p

[roxann57]

I am going to try the cigarette papers and the loo rolls. Failed miserably last year except for a couple that I found where I didn't sow them

[Deleted]

Roxann, I think you have to sow parsnips in a very still day - NO wind, because the seed is so light it could blow away. I bet that's why you found them growing where you didn't plant them ;D!! Less chance of that happening with the fag paper trick.

[skarloey]

FIL is building us a roots bed (hopefully this weekend) I'm going to try some in ciggy papers and some out. Perhaps we could all compare during the season?

BTW is it too early to start them yet?

[roxann57]

Skarloey,

I've been looking parsnips up in the "almanac" it says week 12 so towards the end of March - not long

www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Parsnip/Parsnip.htm

[Deleted]

skarloey said:

FIL is building us a roots bed (hopefully this weekend) I'm going to try some in ciggy papers and some out. Perhaps we could all compare during the season?

BTW is it too early to start them yet?

Nope - Feb and March are the ideal time, as long as the ground has started to warm up abit and isn't too wet.

[roxann57]

GH do you sow yours straight into the ground in Feb/March?

[skarloey]

What about in modules GH? I haven't warmed the soil yet..... well, there ISN'T any soil yet! ;D

[skarloey]

I must remember to look there Roxann!!!! ;D It's strange how opinions differ though isn't it?

[Deleted]

I sow straight into the ground, usually end of Feb. I sow about 1/2 inch deep, and 3 seeds together (thin out 2 if they all germinate) and about 6 inches apart. Germination can take up to 4 or 5 weeks, you need to be patient!!.

Skarloey - don't use modules or anything like that, parsnips don't take well to transplanting. Damn - now I've given you the top tips, you hadn't better grow a longer one than me

[roxann57]

I don't think there is a right or wrong way as long as it works, and if I get parsnips I might end up trying them all

[Chuckles]

gardenhammerette said:

I sow straight into the ground, usually end of Feb. I sow about 1/2 inch deep, and 3 seeds together (thin out 2 if they all germinate) and about 6 inches apart. Germination can take up to 4 or 5 weeks, you need to be patient!!.

Skarloey - don't use modules or anything like that, parsnips don't take well to transplanting. Damn - now I've given you the top tips, you hadn't better grow a longer one than me

I have White Gem and it says on the pkt sow in spring. As a newbie to veg I'm going to follow your lead GH with your top tips ;D. Can I gleen another top tip GH....would you cover them over with a cloche ? ?

[Deleted]

Chuckles - I'm not really that much of an expert!! I haven't ever grown White Gem, I usually grow Avonresister. I don't bother with an cloche, and I'm further North than you are!!!

You might think this abit 'sad' of me but I keep my crop rotation plan so I don't re-plant the same crops in the same place....I date it too (I need to get out more!!!!). Last year Parsnips were sown on 22nd March, the year before it was a month later (I was a newbie then!!). Dr Hessayon recommends anytime from the end of Feb through to April - anytime the weather starts to warm up - abit vague I know because it can be mild one day and freezing the next!!

My other top tip to check if the soil has warmed up is to sit on it, if your b*m gets cold quickly then it's too cold to plant a little seed!!

[Chuckles]

Thanks GH it's fab to be able to get these tips.

Don't think it's sad at all GH ;D I've sat today and done a excel sheet with Names, dates sown, where, germination date etc etc etc for future reference.

I bought Dr Hessayon veggies and herbs the other week ::)forgot I'd got that. Another thanks I owe you Love the b*m bit but i won't thank you for that one, with my luck I'll get a chill and another cold

[fozzie]

The first sowing of mine are already in, Sown directly into the soil. I use the toilet roll method for leeks.

Fx

[Deleted]

greety said:

Thanks GH it's fab to be able to get these tips.

Don't think it's sad at all GH ;D I've sat today and done a excel sheet with Names, dates sown, where, germination date etc etc etc for future reference.

I bought Dr Hessayon veggies and herbs the other week ::)forgot I'd got that. Another thanks I owe you Love the b*m bit but i won't thank you for that one, with my luck I'll get a chill and another cold

You don't sit on it that long Chuckles!!!

I don't think you'll go far wrong with Dr Hessayon, it's a great book when you start out, mine is well thumbed with pages falling out!! I still refer back to it when I'm not sure what I should be doing!!
Good Luck with your Veg growing (it will taste better than anything you can buy!!), give me a shout if I can be any more help!!

GH

[lottielady]

gardenhammerette said:

Chuckles -
My other top tip to check if the soil has warmed up is to sit on it, if your b*m gets cold quickly then it's too cold to plant a little seed!!

This will now be offically known as 'Doing a GH'

LLx

[skarloey]

greety said:

Love the b*m bit but i won't thank you for that one, with my luck I'll get a chill and another cold

Or Piles!!!!!!!!


Actually, GH sent me Dr Hessayon's vegetable jotter, which I remembered this afternoon. It's got most of the usual veg in and when to sow/plant, a place for notes on how you've done and a graph so you can plan your plot. We are going to do that properly tomorrow.