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Here, Peter Miller, one of our seed experts is sowing Parsnip seeds on his allotment. He is also sowing Radish seeds in the same row to use as a marker. The radish seeds will germinate first, in 10-14 days, and this will enable you to see the row and start hoeing. Parsnip seeds can take 3-4 weeks to germinate. Carrot seeds can be sown in the same way.

Handy Tips: 

•  In cold conditions, heat the ground with a polythene sheet for 2-3 weeks prior to sowing. If you don't want to heart the soil, it's better to delay sowings if the ground is too wet and cold.

• Don't use old parsnip seeds. Most varieties of seed can last for years, but parsnip seeds don't like being used past their expiry date. 

• Sow direct! Parsnips do not like being disturbed. You can thin seedlings out as soon as they appear, but they don't like being transplanted.

• Parsnip germination can be erratic, taking up to 8 weeks! Peter sows radishes in the same row to use as a marker, as these are quick to germinate, making it easier to identify the rows.

• Parsnip seeds are very fine, so they can be sown quite thick, and be thinned out later on. Because they are so fine, it can be hard to sow them in windy conditions without them blowing away before they have reached the soil. Tipping the seeds down a pipe into the dug row should help with this. This is also a handy sowing technique which can be used if you have knee or back problems, and find it hard to bend down to sow at ground level.

• Parsnips get a sweeter taste after they have been exposed to frost. You may want to leave them in the ground until the frosts arrive before harvesting.