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I left some parsnips in a quiet corner rather a long time and they went to seed.  I eventually pulled them up but where they were I have loads of respectable seedlings.  Should I pull them up or leave them to take their chance.  Could they amount to anything in the remaining growing season?  Are baby parsnips worth eating?  OH says they are an F1 hybrid so I should pull them up but I am quite reluctant to pull up such lovely little plants given how many tries I had to have to get parsnips to germinate and not be eaten by slugs.  What do you think ?

I would leave them in and see how they develop if they're not in the way. Parsnips stand well through the winter and to my knowledge are not as susceptible to slug damage as other crops.

You have nothing to lose as you didnt know they were there till recently, as they are F1's they wont be true to type but they will still be parsnips :D

Then you'll know wether to leave future F1 self seeded veg in or hoick it out ;)

If they revert to the parents they should still be respectable parsnips, maybe a bit less smooth but probably every bit as tasty.

This is my first parsnip year so I have no comment except it's funny how nature can do some things if we let it be.

Do be careful when handling the leaves, second year parsnips gone to seed brought my arms out in a horrible rash one year.

The only parsnips I've got this year are accidental self-sets - three packs of bought seed never came up!!!
So at least some good came out of not being able to face any kind of food in April 2007...

moonbells