Seeds outside...where have I gone wrong.

[Mung]

I have planted beetroot, parsnip and peas (Feltham First-an early variety) outside and they have done nothing.

I covered them with fleece to protect them a bit and I am wondering if that was the problem. Perhaps I should have just covered them at night...
I am going to try some more peas on my window sill, but I know they dont respond well to root disturbance. I would have grown them in guttering, but I have a round teepee thing to grow them up, so thats no good for me. Is it worth growing them in toilet rolls and tying that. I presume they will rot just like those peat pot thingys (that re so expensive, by the way).

How long ago did you plant them? Was the soil warmed beforehand with fleece? I don't think leaving the fleece over the soil while they germinate will hurt.

Germination time for peas can be 3 - 36 days; beetroot 5-16 days; and parsnip 14 - 26 days and the beetroot and parsnip like slightly warmer conditions to germinate than the peas. So it may be you need to be patient for a bit longer.

Oh and where abouts are you in the UK and what sort of soil?

You may have started them a bit early. The recomendation is:

If you have light (sandy) soil and live in a mild part of the UK, you can sow broad beans, carrots, parsnips, early beetroot, bulb onions, lettuces, radish, peas, spinach and summer cabbage outside under cloches, in soil that has been covered for a few weeks to pre-warm it in February. If the weather in your area has been very cold, then wait until late March. If you have heavy (clay) soil, it is best to wait until March. Seeds can always be sown in pots or modules, under cover, if you are eager to get started.

Thanks snorkle. I am in South East and have clay soil. I did the peas about 4 weeks ago and the beetroot and parsnip about 2 weeks ago. I am going to sow some more peas soon anyway, and I will give the others a little longer.

Mung, I'm not sure if peas object too much to a small bit of disturbance, where i am is very cold and wet (Ireland) so i start everything off in pots, trays, toilet rolls. I never put a seed direct into my soil, and since i've learnt this i've had much more success.

I've read on a gardening forum about pre-germinating parsnips on wet kitchen paper in a covered container, and put in warmth. As soon as you see a tiny sprout (root) you sow them into toilet rolls, and then as soon as you see top growth you plant them out in the soil, roll and all.

The germination rate for parsnips is very poor and this ensures you're sowing at least a germinated seed. The toilet roll full of nice soft compost, gives it the space to grow without hitting stones etc.

The germination worked extremely well for mee, but i had the box beside the range (i don't have an airing cupboard) and it was really warm. If it took that heat to start them off, maybe it was too cold for yours.

Actually, you 'll get a far better crop if you delay sowing your parsnips until the end of March / Mid April. They seem to catch up with earlier sowings but you'll get a better germination rate.

All this wet weather and your clay soil could have led to your seeds rotting. I have clay soil and tend to sow my seeds into drills of compost made in the clay soil. It works really well and helps improve the soil over time too.