Parsnips at day 36 after sowing and protecting with fleece……

[Rhys]

Charles

Here’s a picture of four 1.5m rows of Sweet and Tender Parsnips (supplier: Real Seeds) on 26th April after sowing on 21st March, a fruit day 2 days before the full moon.

Three rows of interplanted radish almost ready to harvest.

This is by far the best germination of parsnips I’ve ever had, so thanks so much for sharing your methods which clearly work wonderfully for this crop.

[Karen]

Hey Rhys,

Congrats on the outcome. I just saw your topic and would like to chip in that I just checked on my damp towel parsnips and they have definitely germinated within 5-6 days. They were sown on the 20th April. 2 days before full moon and root day.

I had some parsnips direct sown last month… I can´t see any yet except weed seedlings! Think I might just have to go with the damp towel method.

[charles]

Nice gardening guys!and thanks for the feedback.
Fleece has made a huge difference this year, adding some temperature to the soil during any sunny spells and it can make all the difference. Free radish too.

[Leif]

This year I have had very fast germination from salsify, root parsley and parsnip, which I think is due to planting in a 3″ layer of compost, which warms up much faster than the heavy clay soil beneath. The leaks are a bit slow, but doing okay, with more in the coldframe in modules. I’m not sure Charles promotes this warming as an advantage of no dig, but if not he should. I will try the fleece next year. Presumably it can also be used as an insect guard for brassicas? Mine get totally destroyed by caterpillars and flea beetles if I leave them uncovered.

[charles]

Thanks for saying this Leif. Yes I do mention earlier crops, maybe not loud enough if you have not noticed.
I am reluctant to sound too clever.
Yet it is remarkable how many problems are solved by no dig with compost mulch, yet how slow it is to be accepted. Its good that Monty Don now mentions it more!

[Author]

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