[Annen]

My parsnip's tops died back a couple of months ago, which I as quite surprised at as I thought they would keep their leaves for a lot longer than that (its the first year I have successfully grown them).
Is this supposed to happen?
So far, I'm digging them up as I need them, but should I get them all out now? or will they grow some more tops (some of the ones I dug up show some newish leaves), or if they do regrow will they still be edible or very woody?


The ones dug up look fine, apart from being very forked and one or two have rusty bits, but most are very nice.

[JayG]

All sounds perfectly normal, including the 'rust' which is almost certainly parsnip canker (OK, not exactly 'normal' but common nevertheless.  )

The tops will start to regrow when it warms up a bit, but will do so at the expense of the roots which will start to shrivel and go woody, so you need to use them before that happens

[Annen]

Right, thank you,  parsnip soup coming up....

[snowdrops]

They should be ok for a fair bit longer Anne

[Beetroot Queen]

Ours are the same, problem being we sowed a lot not expecting them to grow but they did. Is it possible to have too many parsnips

[sunshineband]

I find that those tiny green shoots re-growing helps me locate any parsnips that I missed digging up first time around 

[DD.]

And that's when you really start digging to use them before they go woody!

[snowdrops]

Ours are the same, problem being we sowed a lot not expecting them to grow but they did. Is it possible to have too many parsnips

You can freeze them to make them last longer

[Beetroot Queen]

Ours are the same, problem being we sowed a lot not expecting them to grow but they did. Is it possible to have too many parsnips

You can freeze them to make them last longer

I just dont have freezer space room right now it all seems to go to bulk cooking at the moment for allergy kids. Which is fine as its nice to be able to say ahh they can have that tonight as its in the freezer.

[sunshineband]

And that's when you really start digging to use them before they go woody!

Aww Yuss, like a demon 

[RJR_38]

Could you make a job lot of parsnip crisps BQ?

[Beetroot Queen]

Could you make a job lot of parsnip crisps BQ?

I love parsnip crisps but I cant get them to keep. The allotment show this week did crisps and I need to work on them. How long should they keep. We do beetroot crisps but they dont ever get off the baking tray before being gobbled.

[sunshineband]

Could you make a job lot of parsnip crisps BQ?

I love parsnip crisps but I cant get them to keep. The allotment show this week did crisps and I need to work on them. How long should they keep. We do beetroot crisps but they dont ever get off the baking tray before being gobbled.

They keep better than beetroot crisps, in an airtight container 

Trouble is, you get masses from a decent sized root and so you could end up with a great stack of boxes 

[Beetroot Queen]

Will be having a go, will get the torch and send hubby up the hill. Lol I am joking tomorrow will do

[Salmo]

No need to panic about digging them up. You can leave them until the tops really get going, usually about April. If you want to have a spectacular show leave a couple to grow up and flower.