Parsnips - to pull or not to pull...

Hi All,

I sowed a couple of rows of parsnips last summer, with the intention of eating them over winter. To cut a long story short, we totally forgot they were there, and they have spent a very cold and harsh winter in the ground, shivering away!

Now the growing season is upon us, they are sprouting up like mad, and the plants that previously looked a bit poor at the end of last summer look lush and healthy from the top growth. I pulled up a couple, but the parsnips themselves were still very small and thin.

So, the big question, do I leave them in there until this winter and hope for the best, or have they had their shot and need to be pulled up and composted, making space for something else this summer?

All replies gratefully received! :flwsml:

Cheers,

Dave

 

Hi Dave. If you leave them in, they'll just bolt (go to seed). If you can, just use them up as soon as possible. It's not too late to sow for this year, but it's getting there ! I normally sow mine in early march, but they can be sown as early as february, depending on conditions.

Cheers...freddy.

 

I may be wrong, but I have a sneaking feeling they will just run to seed this summer.

And any root will be very hard.

 

I would have them up and use them Dave. They will come to no good now.

 

Hi all,

Sorry, I've been away from the PC all weekend! Thanks for all your advice, sounds like they're coming up this weekend then!

Cheers,

Dave