The "shoulders" of my parsnips are showing above ground. As it'll be a long time before harvest, should I cover them up? I guess they've romped ahead with the hot summer, but could this mean that leaving them until they get frosted will result in woodier parsnips?
Our parsnips are almost always out of the ground like that, seems to make no difference to them at all.
Do you have deer? if so I would cover them, because the critters will gnaw the roots, they prefer carrots, but parsnips if do if there is nothing better around. I earth them up.
No deer- just rabbits and pigeons,
I find I get less canker in the crowns if I earth them up... :wave:
Thanks, David, that's useful to know as I've had canker on my parsnips before.