First Parsnip

[Rhys]

I pulled my first parsnip of the season today after 2 nights of frost and got this beauty - 36cm long ;)

I roasted it this evening and it was very sweet.

[Rhys]

[cambourne7]

nice :-)

i cant wait till next year when i am going to get som parsnips in the ground!

[manicscousers]

wierd year, planted 3 times, 2 different types of parsnip, first got too cold 'n wet, then went very cold again, only thing I can think, can I put them in rootrainers or peat pots ?

[teresa]

Well brother in law sows 3-4 seeds per loo roll as soon as they start to grow plants them in lottie. I did a row and marked them with lettuce on top they do take a while to get going. I got 5 plants so they are like gold dust. Will grow like BIL next year.

[cambourne7]

yes growing in loo roll always works for me... i have started peas, beans, courgettes, squash.

I have some little 2inch pots and i fit the toilet tube into it half way up the pot for stability.

I had started carrots, parsnips, herbs and some other stuff a while ago but the shelf in the greenhouse was attached by a cat chasing another cat  they both kind of skidded into it and i had left the flap up because it was so warm so that lot was scrapped and never got around to trying again  :-[

[Roy Bham UK]

I have a bed full of lovely parsnips and have noticed that the foliage has collapsed ??? is this normal or do you think some wild life has used it as a king sized bed ??? ;D
Lovely parsnip BTW Rhys ;)

[Meg]

Well manic think there was something in the air this year. Every other year have ahd no bother with my parsnips but after all the above problems am the sole owner of 7 parsnips!!!! Am thinking I might as well pull them now and then I can dig the plot over.

[OllieC]

Same here Roy - just since the first frost this week... They look like someone's trampled them. I pulled a few & the roots are very healthy...

[Robert_Brenchley]

The foliage always goes flop at the first frost. The root begins to turn starch into sugar at that point, which is why the taste improves.

[saddad]

I only got half a dozen from four rows!.... so I'll leave mine a bit longer...
::)

[ollietheonion]

My first years results, from one packet, just 4 Parsnips. A month later, I put in a different variety, and 30+.

[Rosyred]

Not sure yet how mine are under the ground but it took two attempts to get any coming up so fingers crossed :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

I had pathetic germination in the cold spring this year; next year I'll probably fleece them just in case.

[tricia]

Mine did quite well, germinated in loo rolls before planting them out. I've pulled three so far - huge beasts, but very floury and bland. If I have to wait for a frost sufficient to sweeten them up, they'll never get eaten. :) Here in the south-west we rarely get temperatures lower than 1 or 2 below zero. Barely enough to have to scrape windscreens ::)

I wonder - would it help to freeze a few for a couple of days ??? ???

Tricia