Search Sort Posts:  Oldest to newest Newest to oldest

11/04/2008, 13:20 foxyloxy25 Joined on 23/07/2007 Albi (81) Posts 29 Re: seeds Try putting them on damp kitchen paper, then in a plastic container, watch carefully and remove seeds as soon as they start sprouting.  I tried that with some old seed last year and it worked, it also works with Parsnips. I am no expert, but picked the tip up from a very knowledgable gardener on the Kitchen Garden web site. Jeanne      Report

11/04/2008, 13:27 valB Joined on 21/11/2007 Posts 133 Re: seeds The same as growing cress, which I still do over here...love egg and cress sarnies. I have some parsnip seeds as well so I will experiment with them all   Thanks    Report

12/04/2008, 12:35 valB Joined on 21/11/2007 Posts 133 Re: seeds I have put some parsnip seeds onto damp kitchen roll and put into a plastic container. Do I cover the container ? also do I keep the kitchen roll dampened down or not.  All new tips for me so i want to get it right.    Report

13/04/2008, 9:37 water rat Joined on 17/09/2005 Posts 24 Re: seeds I did mine far too early and had to plant them out . They've probably died so I'm doing it again. I had an incredible 100% germination on the parsnips. I used one of those plastic carrot boxes from the supermarket. Laid a double thickness of damp paper towel on the bottom. Placed the seeds individually ( this can be a bit fiddley ,but saves more work later) then cover the box with more damp paper towel, the box not the seeds. Put them in a black plastic bag with gentle bottom heat. Make sure to keep the towel damp.They'll sprout in a few days. I did 300 seeds the first time --I don't like parsnips that much! I'll do about 50 this  time. Bon courage! Water Rat    Report

13/04/2008, 12:10 valB Joined on 21/11/2007 Posts 133 Re: seeds hello water rat I am now going to put more damp kitchen roll over them and will folow all your advice. I just love roast parsnip and we have put some straight into the gound but I have been told they are quite slow to surface. The carrots we planted have done nothing so far so I will try the same thing with them as well. Thanks for replying.    Report

14/04/2008, 13:58 foxyloxy25 Joined on 23/07/2007 Albi (81) Posts 29 Re: seeds Val I always keep the kitchen paper damp and keeping the lid on the plastic container helps to keep it moist until the seeds germinate, they don't take too long, check them regularly and as soon as you see they have sprouted, put them in a loo roll which has compost in, then when the root starts showing through the bottom, I use a dipper to get a nice deep hole in the soil, and put the whole lot loo roll and all, this gives you quite a nice long straight parsnip.  I do hope that is not too much information, if you already know all this I am sorry. Jeanne       Report

14/04/2008, 15:56 water rat Joined on 17/09/2005 Posts 24 Re: seeds Every year our experience of growing parsnips is different. 2006 and they looked like prize specimens, it must have been the perfect weather for them. 2007 saw just 2 make it through the atrocious summer, but mon dieu! Each was the size and shape of a football, I kid you not! We were going to ditch them 'cos we thought they would be woody, but I cooked a bit of one as an experiment and they were tender and delicious. I just sliced some off every time we wanted a bit .  I suppose in the end they were about the same amount as a normal crop. Wonder what we'll get this year?    Report

14/04/2008, 20:32 foxyloxy25 Joined on 23/07/2007 Albi (81) Posts 29 Re: seeds I know what you mean about the vagaries of parsnips, but the folks on the Kitchen Garden site know what they are talking about, so I gave it a shot and it worked.  My soil (if you can call it that) is horrible pure clay, so I have to use a dipper as if planting a bulb, then fill it with compost and put in the germinated loo roll, this works like a dream.  So here's hoping we all get beautiful parsnips, swedes and cerleriac, all of which I have had trial and error with.  Now I need to learn how to grow the perfect cauliflower. Jeanne    Report

14/04/2008, 20:53 hoverfrog Joined on 18/10/2004 87 Posts 623 Re: seeds I used to have clay - how I miss it now! The 1st year I tried to grow caulis they were miniature vegetables - before they became fashionable! Dad bought me 6 sacks of concentrated manure for xmas, and things were never the same after. 6" of well composted horse manure each year after that and I was laughing. Then we moved. Here in France we have acid soil - drains fast and very stony. The caulis love it though - and the other brassicas. I was taught that brassicas like alkaline soil, but here the neighbours always ask me "what on earth could you grow on an alkaline soil?" Answer everywhere seems to be the same - muck, and lots of it. www.veytisou.com    Report

15/04/2008, 11:35 valB Joined on 21/11/2007 Posts 133 Re: seeds I will use all the advice given here and as I am a total novice at growing veggies and OH said he has to much to do in the house to help but will do all the hard graft..digging etc.  I have already runner beans and sweetcorn growing in toilet rolls and doing very well. Thee parsnip seeds have been on damp kitchen roll in a container for three days but nothing happening yet.    Report

Page 2 of 2 (20 items) < 1 2

France Forum » Leisure and Pas... » Gardening » Re: seeds

(Quick links) Forums Home |- Search Forums |- Active Topics |- Unanswered Posts User Options |- Sign In |- Join this community |- Forgot Password About This Forum (READ ONLY) |- About This Forum Moving |- Finding/Owning French Property |- Making the Move From Outside the EU |- Long-Term Letting |- Employment Vacancies in France Legal and Finance |- French Legal Issues |- French Finance Building and Renovation |- House Renovations |-- Working with Wood Living |- Earning a Living |- Driving |- French Education |- Pets |- Animal Welfare, Rescue & Protection |- French Satellite TV, French Internet and Telephone |- Health |-- Changes to Healthcare Entitlement, CPAM, CMU and Cartes Vitales |- Swimming Pools in France Owning/Running a Business |- French Artisans |- Gite Owners |- Hotel and Restaurant Owners |- B&B/Chambres d'Hôtes Owners Leisure and Pastimes |- Gardening |- Sport, Leisure and Pastimes |- Shopping |- French Antiques, Arts & Crafts |- Photography |- Motorcycling in France |- Books and Literature |- Getting Married in France |- Pregnancy and Birth French Culture |- French Food and Wine |- French Culture |- French Language |-- French Language FAQs and Useful Links |- Wildlife/Nature/Environment |- French History Travelling to/from France |- Travelling to/from France |- Latest Good Value Deals to/from France Holidays |- Holidays General Discussion |- The Complete France Post Bag |- The Lighter Side |- Other Topics |- Forum Technical Support |- Useful Links About France/French Living Regions |- HOTEL SEARCH |- Central |- North East |- North West |- Paris Ile de France |- South East |- South West |- East |- West |- Corsica and DOM-TOMs