Pulling parsnips

[Si D]

Short of hiring the local tog o'war team, how do I easily get my 'nips out of the group without damaging them or me?

Pulled the fist two yesterday and they were getting on for 2ft long and just didn't want to come out.  I could have hoiked the ground all around them out with the fork but that would have risked disturbing their neighbours and spearing the parsnips.  So I just excavated around them with a trowel until I could get a good grip on the top four inches and pulled and pulled and pulled.

[Si D]

[Rob the rake]

I grow long parsnips in plastic dustbins. The ones in the main plot are all White Gem, a short(ish) type. Saves you all that bother!

[legendaryone]

While we are talking about parsnips do they still grow in the winter ?

I would get the parsnips out with a trowel if you are that concerned about disturbing the others.

[Rob the rake]

Trouble is they don't make two foot trowels. ;D

[cambourne7]

parsnip i am growing are also little gem and there still a pain to pull.

I am hoping that now that i have cleared the veg around them i can dig them out a little easier.

But so far i have aready broken a shovel trying to dig them out.

[saddad]

They are still growing... but not bulking up, putting all the changes across to make a big (up to 6') flower stalk!
;D

[legendaryone]

saddad thanks for that  :) I wonder if you could tell me if my leeks are still growing ?

[Rob the rake]

I found this tip on another parsnip thread. Dig a hole adjacent to the row and pull the parsnip out sideways. I've tried this and it works like a charm!

[Robert_Brenchley]

I use a spade; it's about the only thing I do use it for. My soil is quite light, and it just levers it out where a fork fails because the snip goes between the tines.

[cornykev]

I'll be digging some up tomorrow ready for Christmas dinner.  ;D ;D ;D

[Rosyred]

Cornykev - snap I had the same idea unless we have a frost then i'll be in trouble. We had some rain a moment ago so should be ok.

[legendaryone]

I'll be pulling mine up christmas eve and also some carrots i have in the greenhouse  :)

[saddad]

I'll probably be out on Christmas day, as the lottie is over the back fence!
:)

[kt.]

Pulled the fist two yesterday and they were getting on for 2ft long

I know many who would be pleased with half that length ;D ;D ;D
But on a more serious note... what variety did you sow to get that length?

[cornykev]

I pulled some up this morning, the ground was frozen on top Rosie but once the fork went in I thought I was home and dry, but the ones I dug up were 14 to 16 inches long and bloody hard to dig out as the ground was very wet.  :o   ;D ;D ;D

[cambourne7]

Went to the allotments today and pulled 5 parsnips, 8 carrots and 2 stalks of sprouts which are not huge but will be big enough for a meal. Pulled 2 baby carrots for the turkey gravy when i boil the giblets.

Parsnips apparantly pulled out ok after a little work,  but i had dug the parsnips around them over the last month so i suppose that helped loosen the soil.

Also planted another tray of onion sets and garlic in peat posts which should give them a good frost.

[Si D]

Pulled the fist two yesterday and they were getting on for 2ft long

I know many who would be pleased with half that length ;D ;D ;D
But on a more serious note... what variety did you sow to get that length?

Afraid I don't know - threw the packet away  :(