Parsnip Seeds

Lotus-eater

Scotsbride wrote: »

expect to get a lower gemination rate with older seed typical after one year drops by 50% or more

Is that with your experience, or reading from a book? Mine was experience and taking actual note over years and years.
I've not found it to be 50%, although as I said, I think varieties are different.

alleycat`

opened a can of worms with this one i guess
The reason i was asking is i tend to suffer low germination rate with parsnip seeds full stop.
I tend to do ok with 3 or even 4 year old seed of many other varieties.

I suspect i lack a parsnip thumb based on the replies.
Can't be good at everything.

xrjtg

alleycat` wrote: »

and also how older varieties have maintained with this poor (older seed) germination rate over time?

I imagine that they're constantly growing and harvesting the plants for seed, rather than keeping a vast stockhouse of "original" seeds that they then grow whenever they need to sell some.

alleycat`

xrjtg wrote: »

I imagine that they're constantly growing and harvesting the plants for seed, rather than keeping a vast stockhouse of "original" seeds that they then grow whenever they need to sell some.

I was more wondering how certain varieties that are not in "constant use" are kept going.

There are many seed banks around the world but i would assume that those that don't store well must be problematic.

The one in the permafrost in norway springs to mind.

I also suspect varities grown now by farmers are not what we grew 50 years ago.

Scotsbride

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Is that with your experience, or reading from a book? Mine was experience and taking actual note over years and years.
I've not found it to be 50%, although as I said, I think varieties are different.

From my experience, reading and from doing an RHS qualification. I'm talking on average and yes it does depend on variety and how the seed is stored. Of course other people may find this to be different

Lotus -eater I'm not pretending to know it all! I think that you comment is a little harsh.

Lotus-eater

Scotsbride wrote: »

Reason: taken offence that Lotus-eater doubts my experience

If you'd have put your experience in the first place, instead of just quoting a "fact", I wouldn't have had to ask.

And I would have thought the pm you sent me would have dealt with it, obviously not :rotfl:

emiff6

alleycat` wrote: »

...The reason i was asking is i tend to suffer low germination rate with parsnip seeds full stop...

I suspect i lack a parsnip thumb based on the replies.
Can't be good at everything.

Me too, but last year I tried seed tape instead of loose seed, and had 2 complete whole rows grow instead of just the one or two parsnips I usually get.

savemoney

I planted a row in my raised beds, 6-7 weeks later nothing. I gave up in end and planted something else

stilernin

I am not sure about how much viability seed loses each year, but I tried the 'plank of wood' method that I have read about with new seed this year and germination seems pretty good after only 12 days.