I LIKE to grow my own food, because there are no food miles, but parsnips aren’t easy! For one thing, they take a full 30 days to germinate – and only then if the weather provides ambient temperatures of about 50°F/10°C. Cold Aston doesn’t deliver consistent spring-time temperatures like that very often, and recent springs have produced ultra-warm, cloudless days followed by chilly nights. If there’s one thing seeds hate, it’s temperature extremes. A warmer Arctic Circle, caused by global warming, is likely to push cold winds our way, so springs may get even more unpredictable in years to come.
In recent years I’ve had to sow parsnips at least two or three times in order to get a row sufficiently good enough to go through a winter of Sunday roasts. I’m not alone, though. Lots of gardeners struggle because the small print on the back of seed packets tells gardeners to sow seeds in February. This may be all right in the south of the country, but in most areas it’s not warm enough in February to promote germination.​
Denne historien er fra February 29, 2020-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
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Denne historien er fra February 29, 2020-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters