"Roger Tonkin" wrote

Just dug up the first parsnip of the year. Unfortunately there is a
large orange rotten looking mess on it. Never had this before, will the
rest of it still be edible?


Sound like Canker, as our soil is quite heavy we get it on most of our
Parsnips every year and normally it's around the top of the root only. It's
caused by a fungus and there is not much you can do about it although there
are supposed to be varieties with some resistance. Just cut the discoloured
bit off until you get to proper parsnip underneath, the rest of the root
will be fine. Taste is not affected. You get used to it.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK