[kermit]

Probably been asked before but couldnt find anything - my 1st year with 'snips gone really well.  Harvested some just before The Big Freeze up here - beautiful and sweet.  The ground is now rock (after I clear the 1.5 feet of ice).  I dont suppose there's any nifty tricks to get them out?  I promised the family a load for Christmas dinner!

If not, I take it they will sit happily until the next thaw (likely June at this rate) without any deterioration?

Thx

[JayG]

If the ground is really so hard you can't get anything around or under them I'm afraid there's not much you can do short of raiding an army ordnance depot!

The good news is they are probably the best vegetable for surviving well in frozen soil conditions and will be fine until the weather warms up enough for them to start growing again (Ha!)   

Probably a good idea to mark the next one to dig out with a stick 'cos if they are anything like mine the foliage will have nearly disappeared which can make them a bit hard to find..............

[Goosegirl]

My OH poured some hot water around the roots which thawed the soil enought to lift them. Depends on the degree of frost though.

[Kleftiwallah]

How about a piece of thick fabric laid over and a hair dryer introduced underneath ,  or a crowbar.   Cheers,   Tony.

[Swing Swang]

Pneumatic drills were use in the cold winter on 1947!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/feb/16/workandcareers1

SS

[elibump]

I'm sure I remember my dad putting a glass jar over the parsnips for 2 or 3 days before he wanted to dig them up when it was frosty, perhaps that along with some hot water as previously suggested?

Eli xx

[mumofstig]

How about a piece of thick fabric laid over and a hair dryer introduced underneath ,  or a crowbar.   Cheers,   Tony.

My plot doesn't have electric, so don't think the hairdryer will help much....do you? 

[elibump]

How about a piece of thick fabric laid over and a hair dryer introduced underneath ,  or a crowbar.   Cheers,   Tony.

My plot doesn't have electric, so don't think the hairdryer will help much....do you? 

Dont hairdryers cause split ends? 

Eli xx

[Lee1978]

You could try putting some fleece over as suggested in this month's Gardener's world, i think i will be giving this a try a few days before Christmas just in case

[kermit]

Thx guys. Think i will try the hot water - why didn't I think of that?!  Hairdryer feels wrong!  The ground is absolute rock. No chance of getting anything in it. So close to emigrating right now...

[binner]

How about a piece of thick fabric laid over and a hair dryer introduced underneath ,  or a crowbar.   Cheers,   Tony.

My plot doesn't have electric, so don't think the hairdryer will help much....do you? 

Dont hairdryers cause split ends? 

Eli xx

no but it might cause split roots

ok il get my coat

been and got our veg for crimbo today, its all thawed out but has frozed up soil again tonight with cold forcast till next week

[Jay The Digger]

 

Seriously, laying a dust sheet over the top , then a couple of screwed up fleeces laid over, then topped with a bit of plywood does the trick. 

It keeps the ground, just above freezing  and lets you dig through no problem.  Unless it gets REALLY COLD. 

In which case, you will have to wait.....

 

[solway cropper]

should have grown them in containers and brought them into the greenhouse when the cold weather took hold. Fresh snips for me on Christmas day, no problem 

[spottymint]

should have grown them in containers and brought them into the greenhouse when the cold weather took hold. Fresh snips for me on Christmas day, no problem 

Snap ! 

[diggerjoe]

Dug some up last week and keeping them in the greenhouse now if only the door to the greenhouse wasn't frozen solid I could get them out