I also had trouble starting root vegetables and after some research found an excellent method. Cut paper towel tubes down to 7 or 8鈥 and fill them with seed starting mix. (Toilet paper tubes are too short). I bundled mine up with string for stability and set them in a dish bin. Sow your parsnips in the tubes, keep them watered and in a sunny window. The parsnips send down a deep tap root before the seedling appears. Once the seedling appears, I plant the whole tube. Works like a charm!!! I also found that composting my root veggies has helped them immensely.
I also had trouble starting root vegetables and after some research found an excellent method. Cut paper towel tubes down to 7 or 8鈥 and fill them with seed starting mix. (Toilet paper tubes are too short). I bundled mine up with string for stability and set them in a dish bin. Sow your parsnips in the tubes, keep them watered and in a sunny window. The parsnips send down a deep tap root before the seedling appears. Once the seedling appears, I plant the whole tube. Works like a charm!!! I also found that composting my root veggies has helped them immensely.