Leeks and parsnips - what next?

josusa47

I sowed these in March, in my little plastic greenhouse.  They're not getting any bigger.  How do I get them from this stage to being big enough to plant out?  They are in coir with added nutrient granules, I have kept them damp and fed them with seaweed extract.  The photo makes the leeks look bigger than they are, they're like fine grass.

Skandi

You can put the leeks out at that size I never have much luck getting them big inside either. The parsnips, they do not transplant well, you'll only get a root as long as that container they are in now is deep. sow them again outside it's not too late.

fidgetbones

Parsnips don't like being transplanted, I would get them in final positions if you can. Leeks need to be potted on into soil based compost or again, into final positions.

josusa47

Thank you.  I have picked out the biggest and potted them singly in yogurt pots, and have sown a row of each in a raised bed.  I just thought I'd get a head start by starting them earlier under cover.  As you might guess, I haven't tried growing them before.

fidgetbones

Root crops in general do not like being transplanted. Carrots, parsnips, swede, turnips, radishes, should all be sown thinly where they are to grow.  Leeks stand being sown early and then transplant.

josusa47

Well, that saves a lot of fiddling about.  I won't bother cossetting them next year.

Lyn

Plenty of time to sow parsnip seeds, I always sow mine on the 1st June, the soils a bit warmer then. 

Nanny Beach

I did put on my parsnips, into those little brown pots that look like cardboard, they were fine, have done the same with turnips with no problem.Think I will sow a few more hen Lyn

Nanny Beach

I also "potted" them on!

Hampshire_Hog

I would plant out the parsnip, I started 60 indoors in old toilet rolls and planted them out a couple of weeks ago and all are doing fine, but just to be on the safe side sowed a few more direct, I did noticed yesterday they have just started to germinate as well.

LG_

With getting leeks into their final position, what's more important - timing or size? (piggybacking your thread, Josusa, sorry!).