[Jonajo]

So earlier today I pulled up my last couple of parnips for today's roast. One of my favourite veg, they have served me well since the first of last autumn's frosts - the wonderful, sweet nuttiness that roasted to perfection.

Here's hoping this year's crop of parsnips match last year's!

[arugula]

Hear hear! We just had the last of ours a week ago, it was a great crop and I hope this season's lives up to expectations.

[plum crumble]

  I've got tons left!  think I overdid it! I've frozen some and others are stored in the garage! won't be planting so many this year!!

[lucywil]

we had a really good crop as well, which makes a change. we are slowly digging the last of them up and giving them away to any one who will have them. personally i cannot stand them but the rest of the family love them.

[Tigerhair]

I cannot wait to pull my first parsnips - I LOVE em!!  Well done 

[Snoop]

What varieties did you grow, out of interest?

[GreenOwl]

I have another row I didn't realise I had!  The tops are sprouting again.

They have been fantastic, last year was the first year I grew them.  I had to wait ages to weed them because I didn't know what the foliage looked like .  This is why planting in rows is good!

Parsnip soup on Saturday and roast parsnips on Sunday.   

Snoop, I think they were Gladiator but I could be wrong.

[plum crumble]

mine were Gladiator = stonking!!!

[Ian_P]

Mine were brilliant and I have about eight left that I dug up last week.

Anyone know a good recipe for parsnip chutney?

[Debz]

I am looking to grow some for the first time this year.  Do you very successful people have any good tips?

[DD.]

You get loadsa different answers!

Me:

April.

Pinch every 8"

Thin to one.

Net against carrot fly.

First frost.

Eat.

[arugula]

You get loadsa different answers!

Me:

April.

Pinch every 8"

Thin to one.

Net against carrot fly.

Firtle to check they are growing big and strong

First frost.

Eat.

[bigben]

I am looking to grow some for the first time this year.  Do you very successful people have any good tips?

Make sure your seeds are fresh and not left overs from last year - they give poor germination if old. I start mine in loo roll tubes or paper pots on a warm windowsill. Once they are up I harden them off and use a bulb planter to drop them into their final places. Dont hang around because once they start growing they can fork if they reach the bottom of the tube before you get them into the ground.

[JayG]

Fresh seed (!)

Sow quite thinly early April but later if it's still cold.

Thin to about 6-8" after first true leaves appear and transplant thinnings to make another row (works in my sandy soil but might be tricky in heavier soils.)

Don't net against carrot fly (should do but hey, what's a bit of canker between friends and you're going to peel them anyway!)

Feed once or twice with Growmore (the poor sandy soil issue again.)

Wait until after frost before digging.

Try to laugh at some of the more comical ones which must have hit stones.

Eat. Delicious! 

[Debz]

Many thanks.  That sounds do-able.  I have already bought my packet of seed because I had read on here previously about only using fresh seeds for germination.