Parsnips - frozen ground

Jamie,

I feel your pain, i really do.

Went out on Christmas Eve to extract some veg, brussels and carrots in the collapsed greenhouse were fine, but the parsnips were impossible.  5 x 2ltr hot tap water, and 2 kettles later, still nearly bent a full size fork trying to get them out.

I was truly upset, this year we raised our own turkey and was so looking forward to everything on the plate being from our garden.

So shop bought parsnips it had to be. Of course there were pigs in blankets too, which i forgot about. I said we'll have to grow our own next year, my 4 year old daughter replied  "where would we get sausage seeds Mum?"

Went this morning thinking that now the snow has gone I should be ok to dig a few parsnips but the ground is still solid to a much greater depth than I have ever seen it! Once it does thaw I will lift quite a few, blanch and freeze them just as a backup option.