parsnip novice - questions!

[calamityjayneuk]

Hi all

I could resist pulling a parsnip or two to see how they were getting on. They were a good size though they have rusty stuff near the top, but were still edible after peeling.

Is this canker? If so, should I lift the rest? How can I avoid this next year?

I sowed in April in root trainers and then planted out in May, but they seem to be huge already, I wasn't expecting them to be big enough until winter - have I read the packet wrong?

::) just a few questions

[calamityjayneuk]

[shirlton]

We have been using ours for a couple of months now because they have been a good size.Nowt wrong with that at all, its just that they taste better after a cold snap. Last year we had eaten the lot by December. I do like to half roast some of ours and then freeze them for later. We always get some rust on some of ours. It does come off when you peel them,

[calamityjayneuk]

thanks shirlton

So if I leave them in the ground it will be ok? I was hoping to have some for Christmas dinner, but when I saw the rusty stuff I thought maybe they needed to be used

[Flighty]

Calamityjaneuk if the area at the top of the root is black then it's canker.  Those areas will crack and the parsnips rot so they do need to be lifted and used.
To prevent canker lime the soil, don't sow too early and grow a resistant varity such as White Gem.

[calamityjayneuk]

Hi Flighty

They are White Gem! So I did something right :)

But the marks on them are at the top but are rusty coloured not black and they seem to scrape off ok. I was mainly concerned whether leaving them in the ground was ok or will they be better lifted and frozen or something?

[Flighty]

Calamityjaneuk I don't know what that is!
If it was me I'd lift most of them, and just leave a few to see what happens to them.
Trim, peel and wash them, cut into cubes and blanch for five minutes then freeze in poly bags. They also stay fresh for a couple of weeks in poly bags stored in the fridge.

[manicscousers]

we get it, it just peels off, I'm leaving ours as it doesn't seem to be getting worse, if it goes mushy they're all up  ;D

[saddad]

I get it too... but never been a real problem here...  :-\

[cornykev]

I get it as well, as already said just peels off, and it won't harm to keep some in the freezer just for Christmas.
The frost makes them more sugary, but what if they are fozen now straight away will the starch still turn to sugar or do they have to be in the ground.  :-\    ???      ;D ;D ;D

[realfood]

The rusty colour is canker. When you eventually lift them, cut off the canker parts before use.