Parsnips amongst other things!

I've still got one row of parsnips left on the plot, but given how long they need to get to a good size I'm starting some more off today. I've tried several ways of getting a successful row of parsnips...have just sown them directly (patchy and mixed results)...started them off in toilet roll tubes and transplanted them (which did work quite well),....but 2 years ago I discovered a way that has lead to very successful rows of parsnips being achieved and I'll share my secret here ;-)

It does become quite fiddly when it comes to transplanting them out and a degree of patience and nimble-fingeredness is needed but it does provide fairly reliable results so am doing it again this way this year.
I start the seeds on folded over damp kitchen towel, with a side plate top and bottom.

I'll check them after a few days for signs of germination, and then when the shoots are about 4-5mm I'll take them down to the allotment, and plant them at the appropriate depth and let them get on with it. What it has ensured is that the iffy nature of germination of parsnip seed is eliminated as only the seeds which have germinated are planted out. It is more fiddly, but in the long run there is no thinning needed as I space them to the final spacing required and then the plants just look after themselves all season.

I am thinking about trying this method with carrots as well as I always seem to run out of time to properly thin out my carrots, or when I do I manage to let a whole load of carrot fly know where they are and they all get munched. I think an experimental row of carrots done this way will happen this year to see how that works out.

Other exciting news is that my brassicas that were sown the other day are all poking their first teeny pair of leaves out of the soil, and the cornflower (double blue) has as well.

I've sown today, other than some tender and true (old seeds - not hopeful, but giving it a go) and hollow crown parsnips,
pepper -'sweet' colour rainbow mixed;
Linaria - fairy bouquet;
Swan river daisy mixed;
Dahlia - dwarf double mixed;
Butternut squash - 'winter' butternut F1
and tomato - gardener's delight

I'm contemplating starting off peas in plugs as there is a really big weevil problem at the allotment and peas tend to get so nibbled that they cant get going properly and I've lost whole rows before to the things. I noticed my neighbours broad beans were showing signs of weevil's eating them, so I think that I may well start most of the peas off here in plugs and transplant them.