Our first ever Parsnip!

[Andy H]

Dug one up today because I couldn`t wait for the first frost. Never grown one before.

[Andy H]

[ALAN HOWELL]

Well done Andy...and the taste is wonderful you will see ;)...Alan

[Palustris]

That is 100% more than we have got this season.
If you can bear to cook it, blanching and freezing has the same effect on its sweetness as frost in the ground does.

[Debs]

How big is yours Andy ;) (PARSNIP !!!)

I ask because, like you I have never grown any before so dug up two.
One was miniscule and the other was biggish but had been ravaged by something

What was the foliage like?
Mine is ok but not lush growth, so I think I shall bide my time and wait until November... unless that is too late (Advice on lifting times anyone?)

Debs.

[Debs]

Sorry all... just seen the piccie ;D

That is a monster ; :o

How and when did you grow it...I think I could do with all the advice available  ;D ;D

Debs

[Andy H]

I sowed them in March. I used an iron bar to make a hole and filled with potting compo and topped up with seived soil(cos running out of potting comp)! put in 3 seeds and later thinned to best one. That`s it!
Then waited and waited and waited....................
Today I thought.... >:( I gotta look at ONE so dug it up and  :D
Glad I read the book...

[Andy H]

Oh! couldn`t resist digging another one. How do other people dig them up! Had to dig 21" hole and still snapped the end off

[Chantenay]

They look gorgeous. You can keep a few to hand by storing in boxes (see thread on wooden boxes) but they should stay in the ground for a few months should'nt they??

[Andy H]

Think you can leave in ground round till Feb,Gloves may be good idea from what I have read about the rash the leaves can give :o

[Andy H]

Just dug another for lunch! So chuffed that it was 18 inches long ;D
No-one around to see us dig it either >:(

[aquilegia]

most impressive. I'm still sulking because none of mine germinated. Yours are huge!

Are they gorgeous to eat too?

[Slugger]

 :P Apologies for the stupid question, but I have just grown Parsnips for the first time - what effect does frost have??? If I leave them in presumably the foliage disappears?

[sandersj89]

:P Apologies for the stupid question, but I have just grown Parsnips for the first time - what effect does frost have??? If I leave them in presumably the foliage disappears?

Frost will help them taste a little sweeter. It converts starch to sugar.

As we go into autumn the folliage dies back to ground level and the roots are happy in the ground unless it is very heavy and wet. Gig the roots as required. If left until spring they will resprout from the tops but by then the roots are woody and not nice to eat. If worried they can be lifted and stored in sand or peat in a dark shed or in a clamp in the soil.

HTH

Jerry

[busy_lizzie]

Picked this one on Saturday was supposed to be for Ceri's Harvest celebration, until I dug it up and saw this.  where did I go wrong?  ;D busy_lizzie

[aquilegia]

alternatively, dig them now and blanch and freeze them. This will also make them taste sweeter.

[ALAN HOWELL]

most impressive. I'm still sulking because none of mine germinated. Yours are huge!

Are they gorgeous to eat too?

Hi.....try primed parsnip seeds from Samuel Dobie & Son.
they never fail me......Alan

[Multiveg]

We've done well with the parsnips - last year, had just one, but that is because someone weeded them (not my beetroot sower). This year, spaced out nicely with a radish seed in between to mark the row.

[aquilegia]

Thanks Alan - I've sent off for their catalogue. I've also made a note of everyone's sowing methods and I will be trying them all. Snips are my favourite veg!

[Slugger]

:P Apologies for the stupid question, but I have just grown Parsnips for the first time - what effect does frost have??? If I leave them in presumably the foliage disappears?

Frost will help them taste a little sweeter. It converts starch to sugar.

As we go into autumn the folliage dies back to ground level and the roots are happy in the ground unless it is very heavy and wet. Gig the roots as required. If left until spring they will resprout from the tops but by then the roots are woody and not nice to eat. If worried they can be lifted and stored in sand or peat in a dark shed or in a clamp in the soil.

HTH

Jerry

Thanks Jerry - does the same apply for beetroot and carrots?

[sandersj89]

Thanks Jerry - does the same apply for beetroot and carrots?

I would not leave carrots in the ground unless you are on nice light soil and do not get bothered by slugs. I lift mine around about now and store as mentioned earlier.

My beetroot never seems to stay in the ground that long as it gets eaten all too quickly fresh or pickled! Not sure if it is frost hardy though and I would tend to lift it!

Jerry