[GaryH]

Parsnips look good, although when I pulled one up, it was like a letter U.

The reason for this is that I put manure in the bed, which then made the parsnip curl as it was looking for the good soil.

[richyrich7]

Hi Gary wouldn't have thought so, manure would usually make them fork

 I'd hazard a guess at not enough depth of soil and it's hit a hard pan that it could not grow through. 

[paintedlady]

They look a bit on the big side for this year's sowings, so I'm presuming they are from last year ...?   unfortunately you'll need to harvest them sooner rather than later as all the goodness in the parsnip will soon be focussed on throwing up a seed head (that is, they grow first year, flower in the 2nd year)  

[GaryH]

Thanks

yes I planted them end of last year. very slow and not very big, so I think I will lift them, once my Kale is up.

[Salmo]

Parsnips are best removed now.Not just because of losing their sugar when growing tops, but also because they will probably have some carrot fly lavae in them which will hatch and infect next this years crop. Do not compost as the carrot fly will happily hatch in the heap.

[Yorkie]

Do not compost as the carrot fly will happily hatch in the heap.

So, Salmo, if my parsnips had canker would you suggest the cut off bits are not composted, as canker can be introduced by carrot fly?

If so, oh dear.  I'll get it right next year!

[Salmo]

Cancer gets in where the parsnips are damaged and this is often as a result of carrot fly, especially when it is in the top of the root. If you poke about in the damaged area you may find some white maggots or small yellow pupae. Do not compost.

This is a good time to look round your plot, and your neighbours, and check that there are no old carrots or parsnips lying about that can carry over carrot fly. This also applies to old potatoes that will be the main source of blight infection.

[Novice but totally hooked]

Dug all my remaining parsnips up last weekend.  I'd thought they'd be huge and no good for anything (except using as logs on my wood fire - LOL) but there were some great little ones which I'm roasting for lunch today and some slightly bigger ones which I used to make a vat of parsnip soup which is now filling our freezer.

Now onto digging over the carrot patch again!