[Pep]

Hi,

Hope someone can help me out on this.  

I've bought a packet of seeds which clearly shows sprigs of parsley on the front and it's name (bulgarian) is Magdanoz Petroselinum Sativum.  I've bought another packet which shows a picture of parsnips which is named Magdanoz Petroselinum Hortense.  On the back of both packets (in English) it says parsley  :shock: .

They can't be the same family surely - one you eat the leaves and the other (cone shaped root 15cm long and 4cm thick) you eat the root?

To make it worse, I can't ever recall seeing what the leaves of a parsnip looks like.

Total beginner to gardening - bet it shows as well    

I'd really appreciate any advice.

Pauline

[SpudtheBinx]

Funnily enough I have been wondering the same thing myself lately. What I always grew up knowing as cow parsley I have been told is a wild parsnip and I have recently seen it refered to as cow parsnip. I suspect they are related. Leaves and root can be eaten from different menbers of the same family, don't forget turnips are brassicas just like cabbage.

[SpudtheBinx]

Sorry for the double post, I found this on wikipAedia

Though it looks similar to parsnip it tastes quite different. Parsnips are among the closest relatives of parsley in the umbellifer family of herbs. The similarity of the names is a coincidence, parsnip meaning "forked turnip", it is not related to real turnips.

[Pep]

Thank you very much indeed, really appreciated.  It's all very confusing isn't it?  Well, it is for me but that's not difficult    

At least now I can proceed with having parsley and parsnips as I know them.

Thanks again.

Pauline

[DD.]

You'll know you've got the right one when you look at the seed, parnsips are round & flatish with a slightly raised centre. Parsley is narrow & oval(ish) shape.

[woodburner]

Parsley, parsnips, cow parsley, sheeps' parsley, hemlock :!: , fennel, dill, carrots, dumb cane, angelica, giant hogweed  :!:  are all in the umbellifereae family (umbellifers), some are edible, some are delicious, and some are poisonous!

It's a similar situation to the potato family (solanaceae) on one member (tomatoes) the fruit are edible/delicious, on another (potatoes) the fruit is poisonous, but the tubers are edible.

I hope I haven't put you off GYO.  :shock:  

[Brian_of_Bozeat]

Do a search for hamburg parsley, it could be that. Parsley on the top Parsnip on the bottom, it usually forks...

[Trillium]

...'what the leaves of a parsnip looks like.'

When it's growing, parsnips have much larger flat leaves than flat leafed parsley has. The main stem will also become much longer quickly and will grow from a central point rather than branching out above.

[Pep]

Thanks very much for your replies.

I did a search on Hamburg parsley and it very much looks like it is that, especially since some articles state it is common in this neck of the woods.

Put me off GYO Woodburner?  No, not at all - I'll just make sure I eat the correct parts  

The packet says they can be set December - March so, as soon as the soil thaws, I'll be out there.

It'll be interesting to see what they taste like but will have to wait till May - September  :cry:

Thank you again for your help.  I'll no doubt be back again    

Pauline