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Whether it was the very wet summer or for some other reason the parsnips are very large already - anybody else seen a similar effect?

Yes I can say this year the old parsnips have loved it, they are quite big, we have used loads but I made second sowing in July for overwintering.

The ones I cropped already have tasted wonderful so Im expecting much better after they have had a touch of frost ;D

ps. Carrots have done very too this year, and not too much fly damage. I grew Purple Dragon.......absolutely gorgeous. Yellowstone......wasnt too impressed. A pink one I cant remember the name of.......was ok. And a cheapo packet from Lidl.......they're ok too. It will be all purple next year.....yummmmm!! ;)

I've not started digging yet, but the tops look good.

I harvested my ENTIRE carrot crop yesterday - 12.  The rest got washed away I think.

In spite of trying everything - I find it hard to get any flippinf parsnips!  I have had just a handful from loads of seed!  I tried pre germinating them and starting in modules - but to no avail.  Has anyone tried those seed tapes for PArsnips??

The ones I have got tast gorgeous though!

Louise

Naughty me - I just dug up 2, er, by mistake? You see, the trowel slipped and then before I knew it, they were in my hand, er...

Despite having massive tops, the parsnips below are just normal parsnip sized. Not those silly massive things, not disappointing little things, but just right.

Yum yum. Just don't ask me how my 4 packets of beetroots are coming along.  >:(

My parsnips have done very well this year too. Unlike beetroot where I lost everyone of four sowings. The parsnips were set on damp kitchen roll to germinate and then transfered to loo roll holders to grow on and then planted out in the containers. Never tried it before but it works well.

Ive had some good germination and some very poor in separate sowing,the size of the root is superb this year though ;D

Most of the parsnip seed imported into the country this year came from China hench very poor germination, their production control is no good.

That makes sense powerspade. The reason they recently had problems with lead paint on toys is the same. A lack of prescribed processes.

Quote from: OllieC on October 01, 2007, 19:35:17
That makes sense powerspade. The reason they recently had problems with lead paint on toys is the same. A lack of prescribed processes.

Keep up!!!  Mattel have had to apologise for throwing thousands of Chinese employees out their jobs when the problem was their own design flaws and nothing to do with Chinese paint.  Doesn't matter though, plenty of other sweat shops piled high with poorly paid Chinese peasants to keep production - so it needn't effect Mattels fat cat director salaries.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7006599.stm

Hmmm, it's all a bit political that one. I thought there were still some problems with lead paint? Either way, I can't say I'd be all that motivated to do a good job if you paid me what these poor people earn. Still, as long as the guys at the top get their bonuses, eh?!?!

I am so tempted to pull up  a parsnip but we have yet to have a frost. :(
Although like some one else on here next time i do the gardening my hand might pull one up by mistake. ;D

My parnips are brill this year and very tasty already. They are very big must of been all the rain. I'll put a picture on my blog for you to see shortly.

Quote from: okra on September 30, 2007, 09:58:33
Whether it was the very wet summer or for some other reason the parsnips are very large already - anybody else seen a similar effect?

yup ours have been monsters but can only compare to year 1's though. v tasty too.

Hubby grew parsnips for his drinking clubs annual daft competition, here is a photo of his winner, sadly in the ugly category!  We thought it would have a chance in the longest but was beaten by 1"!!! Darn thing was nearly 3' long.  It's a Gladiator and was grown in a pipe full of Miracle Grow. 

I have no idea how mine on the lotty are getting on, I have plenty in the freezer that he dug up looking for the moster....