Dug one up today because I couldn`t wait for the first frost. Never grown one before.
(http://hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/parsnip.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_UK)
Well done Andy...and the taste is wonderful you will see ;)...Alan
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.
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.
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
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...
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
(http://hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/2ndparsnip.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_UK)
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??
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
Just dug another for lunch! So chuffed that it was 18 inches long ;D
No-one around to see us dig it either >:(
(http://publish.hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/parsnip18inch.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_UK)
most impressive. I'm still sulking because none of mine germinated. Yours are huge!
Are they gorgeous to eat too?
: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?
Quote from: Slugger on October 11, 2004, 12:45:37
: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
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
alternatively, dig them now and blanch and freeze them. This will also make them taste sweeter.
Quote from: aquilegia on October 11, 2004, 12:06:20
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
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.
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!
Quote from: sandersj89 on October 11, 2004, 12:52:16
Quote from: Slugger on October 11, 2004, 12:45:37
: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?
Quote from: Slugger on October 11, 2004, 15:01:45
Quote from: sandersj89 on October 11, 2004, 12:52:16
Quote from: Slugger on October 11, 2004, 12:45:37
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
I used heavy iron bar to make holes,wiggled round to make circular and deep. Then I (read the book again)then filled with potting compost(Sieved) then the 2nd row I filled with mix of potting compost and sieved soil(as I was running out of compo) then placed 3 seeds in and later thinned to best one and waited and waited and waited... >:(
Then finally BEFORE 1st frost got so impatient that I had to dig one, then another, then another ;D
They were all over a foot long and the last was 18" ;)
Must have been the hole made first and the sieved compo/soil?
First attempt and chuffed! They taste great too,just ate them,haven`t blanched and frozen yet but will do.
gonna grow one in a drainpipe next year to try and get a long one. Everyone I emailed it to replied with some comment about blokes and length :o
If it was 2" they would laugh, and typical female when you tell them it is 18" then they always find something stupid to comment about ???
Just jealousy really, even my cousin in tasmania had something to say :D
BL, I believe the reason yours are so interestingly shaped is the root hairs were damaged when they were still in their infancy, so instead of one long tap root, they spiral all around and make lots of smaller taps. Did you start them in modules and then plant out, or did you sow direct? My direct sown are lovely long and straight, but the ones I planted out, even tho I took great care, are like alien tennis balls!
With both carrots and parsnips the tiny bud at the tip of the growing root is easily damaged - not only by transplanting, but also by the presence of small pockets of acid (e.g. manure), stones, nibbling soil pests etc.. Once this bud is damaged it will cease to grow and one or more buds higher up the root will take over, causing the `branching` effect
Aha, there you go. Mine were sure to have been damaged when I planted them out. My ground is soooooooo stoney, I have been pleasantly suprised at how straight and long the directly sown 'snips and carrots have been.
This is weird! just searched parsnip and opened this bit to upload this years picture.....
do do do do do do do do!!!!(spooky music)
The picture already on the site shows the one I just took but not uploaded yet??????
Same cup in the frame at a different angle............
do do do do do do do do (More spooky music)!
Is this the same parsnip?
(http://publish.hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/parsnip.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_UK)
so what happened to last years picture? It got replaced by current one????????
Confused now............ ??? ??? ???
YOU are ;D Lovely parsnip though. Dead jealous here as I haven't got any :'( Derek keeps talking about his spicy parsnip soup just so as to rub it in :'( :'(
hi all, :D
A tip for andy h & ( anybody else) To avoid snapping off the tip of the parsnip, dig some of the soil away from the crown of the plant, about 75cms around, (3 inches in old money) then pour 2 or 3 pints of water into this depression, leave it to soak in for 5 minutes & then the parsnip will come out much easier & in one piece.
Adrian.
Good tip adrian.
Fine looking parsnip pics :)
The_Snail
Andy that happened to me with last years squash pics, think it is because I used the same name when I put them into photobucket, it over rode last years!
Thanks Adrian I will try that. if the end snaps off then you can hire the next JCB to excavate the next one!!! ;D
I wondered that Doris, must change numbering system or transfer last years pics to disc so it doesn`t happen!