[washsaint]

Started harvesting my parsnips not knowing what to expect.....

First one looked encouraging with a lovely top but when I pulled it out of the ground it was about 12 inches deep!  Oh, how my daughter laughed!

Next one I tried I couldn't even find  - and when I did thought it would be a tiddler......it ended up being 2 foot long and weighing in at over 1.2 Kg!

Any ideas how they could be so massively different in size?  Also, both appeared to be affected by canker with blackened tops of roots although this did not go too deep.


Cheers!

[WG.]

Some folks would love to have that kind of a problem.  You will always get a big variation in size.

The blackened tops are more likely to be from carrot root fly damage.

[gobs]

two feet parsnip :shock:

You are not complaining there about something, are you? Uneven, blah.

No, we do not have 2 feet parsnip, I'm actually growing a short variety , that is canker resistant. Nee-Naaa.

[Sadgit]

I pulled up 5 at the weekend and all about 6inches and forked as hell.. hardly any usable 'snip on them..

[paintedlady]

I pulled up one of my parsnips this weekend, first of the season.  It had fanged but basically 3 for one   I too was surprised that the main root was easily 18 inch long with a massive crown on top - that's unusual in this heavy clay.  I put it down to all that rain in summer!

If it had been any longer, I don't think I could have got it all out of the ground!  Well done washsaint!!

[splodger]

i like my parnips so much - i've used them all up already (but i only did 3 x 10 ft rows   )

will have to do more next year   and would not really want them 2ft + long - as i like all my veg young, fresh and tender  

[sweet nasturtium]

I didn't get any parsnips this year, I lost the seed packet and I love parsnips.  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:

[muntjac]

wow thats some snip lolol

[washsaint]

thanks for your replies....we've only just finished off the first monster and I was shocked (to say the least) that one I pulled up today was just as heavy (1.2 Kilos) but about 19 inches long.  

beginners luck I guess!!

Thankfully they're not woody either and taste sooooo much better than shop bought parsnips!!!!

[flowerlady]

:shock:   Do tell what was the variety ?? !!

gobs which short variety do you grow?  my site is so stoney that multi corkscrews is quite par for the course  :?

[gobs]

I'm growing Avonresister, first time this year, and I'm well pleased with it, I haven't pulled a much forked parsnip yet. I bought it for next year. Also spotless they are, so far.

[washsaint]

Parsnips variety was Tender and True

[GrannieAnnie]

I only did 3 8ft rows of snips this year as I've never had much luck with them before.  But they've done well.  Some forked, but what does that matter?  They are still better than the shop ones.  So next year more rows for me too!!!!

My variety was hollow crown.

[Rob the rake]

Flowerlady,
Try growing your parsnips and carrots in plastic dustbins next time around and they'll be every bit as good as everyone elses!

Rob

[chrissie B]

oh i would love to have a problem like a 2ft parsnip , we dont get them here and i tryed to grow them but they dont seem to like it here , any one got growing tips on parsnips in a warmer climate , would be greatfull.
chrissie b