My Parsnips are misbehaving.

I've not grown parsnips before (1 of my favourite veg). I knew my veg plot would be a bit rich for them as I was short of topsoil so used a fair amount of horse manure and compost to augment. Got great germination and the Parsnips grew away like mad. I pulled a couple to see how things were doing a few months back and wasn't surprised to see they had forked quite a bit presumably due to too rich soil. Apart from the they weren't too bad.
I have left the rest as I've always been told that Parsnips taste better after being frosted. I had intended to leave them in situ and use as and when required over winter. However, I noticed today that loads of them are flowering, unlikely to be a good thing? I lifted another couple which were flowering and the roots are pretty pathetic AND they have neck rot...much swearing! What am I best to do? Bin the lot?, leave and hope the rot doesn't get worse? chop off the flowers? Lift them all despite no frost yet, salvage what there is and freeze?, visit Tescos when I want Parsnips?
Apart form the soil being a bit rich I haven't the faintest idea what I've done wrong. I have some Carrots growing in the same soil/area. They have forked a bit but are delicious and no signs of rot at all. Wondered if there is an idiot guide to growing Parsnips I could get as I am going to give them another go next year and will obviously hope for better. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

Could be because it warmed up again, mine haven't started swelling yet, bit of a late sowing.

Probably best freeze what you got if they're thinking about bolting.

 

Normally, if left in the ground right up until they start going go to seed the following year, they will develop a tough central core that ruins them for eating (also plus lots of hair roots and a darkening of the skin) and they're then only fit for the compost heap.

Try cooking and eating one or two before bothering to freeze them, although you should notice a tough core standing out as soon as you cut through it.

 

Gawd yer right @Scrungee about the tough central core. I had 1 hell of a job to even cut them up. Just put the vast majority of what I cooked into the bin, yuk. Oh well, I'll lift the rest tomorrow and freeze those that aren't too bad.
Back to the drawing board next season. Do you think I would be better to show later next season? I sowed in early May from memory this year.

 

Search GC for the thread about sowing parsnips in bog roll tubes, such ashttp://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/tips-for-growing-parsnips.39165/page-3

 

I dont grow parsnips any more but did years ago.
Got a feeling your problem is down to manure, I always sowed around late March early April and never had any bolt.
My soil is pretty heavy clay.
If they are bolting, I dont think you can do much about it, just hope for better luck next year