Parsnip seeds, is one year too old?

Mudman · April 23, 2012

Just read in the book Organic Gardening, that you should buy new parsnip seeds each year and I am a bit skeptical about that. Because parsnips take so long to germinate, however, I thought I would check with others about this. I don't want to find out they didn't work and have it be too late to plant again. Thanks for any help!

Tracydr · April 23, 2012

A friend of mine had sowed some parsnips the year before last. Had no germination. This year, she had a whole bunch of parsnips come up from last year's sowing!

spacetogrow · April 23, 2012

I just did a germination test on seed bought last year - Harris Model - and got about 70%. Given that parsnips have a reputation for not getting really great germination rates under the best of circumstances, 70% is good.

janezee · April 23, 2012

Yeah, they're not the best germinators. Perhaps putting them on the damp paper towel trick would be the best for them.

j

Mudman · April 23, 2012

I just bought some to be safe. $.99 is a small price to pay.

April 23, 2012	#1
Mudman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NW Wisconsin Posts: 910	Parsnip seeds, is one year too old? Just read in the book Organic Gardening, that you should buy new parsnip seeds each year and I am a bit skeptical about that. Because parsnips take so long to germinate, however, I thought I would check with others about this. I don't want to find out they didn't work and have it be too late to plant again. Thanks for any help! __________________ Mike

April 23, 2012	#5
Mudman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NW Wisconsin Posts: 910	I just bought some to be safe. $.99 is a small price to pay. __________________ Mike

April 23, 2012	#2
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	A friend of mine had sowed some parsnips the year before last. Had no germination. This year, she had a whole bunch of parsnips come up from last year's sowing!

April 23, 2012	#3
spacetogrow Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: MN zone 4 Posts: 359	I just did a germination test on seed bought last year - Harris Model - and got about 70%. Given that parsnips have a reputation for not getting really great germination rates under the best of circumstances, 70% is good.

April 23, 2012	#4
janezee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Whidbey Island, WA Zone 7, Sunset 5 Posts: 931	Yeah, they're not the best germinators. Perhaps putting them on the damp paper towel trick would be the best for them. j