Hello!

I'd appreciate some advice on parsnip harvesting. I planted a good number
of them in the Spring. Now they are almost three ft tall, with bright green
healthy leaves. When should I start digging them up? I'm in the Southwest
of England, in case that makes a difference... I read somewhere that it's
best not to wait until after a couple of frosts have occurred in the
autumn. Is that good advice?

Thanks,

J

JakeD wrote in
:

Hello!

I'd appreciate some advice on parsnip harvesting. I planted a good
number of them in the Spring. Now they are almost three ft tall, with
bright green healthy leaves. When should I start digging them up? I'm
in the Southwest of England, in case that makes a difference... I read
somewhere that it's best not to wait until after a couple of frosts
have occurred in the autumn. Is that good advice?

Thanks,

J

NEVER, NEVER until they have had frost on them.
--
Jim S
Tyneside UK
www.jimscott.co.uk

Jim S" wrote
JakeD wrote in
Hello!

I'd appreciate some advice on parsnip harvesting. I planted a good
number of them in the Spring. Now they are almost three ft tall, with
bright green healthy leaves. When should I start digging them up? I'm
in the Southwest of England, in case that makes a difference... I
read
somewhere that it's best not to wait until after a couple of frosts
have occurred in the autumn. Is that good advice?

Thanks,

J

NEVER, NEVER until they have had frost on them.

They always do taste better after they've had a couple of frosts on
them. We normally leave ours in the ground and dig a couple up whenever
we want to use them. Unless it was likely to freeze really hard for a
long time I don't think they'd come to much harm.

--
Sue

On 07/09/2012 23:32, Sue wrote:
Jim S" wrote
JakeD wrote in
Hello!

I'd appreciate some advice on parsnip harvesting. I planted a good
number of them in the Spring. Now they are almost three ft tall, with
bright green healthy leaves. When should I start digging them up? I'm
in the Southwest of England, in case that makes a difference... I read
somewhere that it's best not to wait until after a couple of frosts
have occurred in the autumn. Is that good advice?

Thanks,

J

NEVER, NEVER until they have had frost on them.

They always do taste better after they've had a couple of frosts on
them. We normally leave ours in the ground and dig a couple up whenever
we want to use them. Unless it was likely to freeze really hard for a
long time I don't think they'd come to much harm.



If you have plenty then do your own test, try some before frosting and
the rest after.
Peoples tastes vary, but I always prefer them frosted, to the extent
that I will sometimes put shop bought parsnips out if we are due a
frosty night.

Jim S wrote in news:XnsA0C7BA0576EC1jimjimXscottcouk@
81.171.92.236:

JakeD wrote in
:

Hello!

I'd appreciate some advice on parsnip harvesting. I planted a good
number of them in the Spring. Now they are almost three ft tall, with
bright green healthy leaves. When should I start digging them up? I'm
in the Southwest of England, in case that makes a difference... I read
somewhere that it's best not to wait until after a couple of frosts
have occurred in the autumn. Is that good advice?

Thanks,

J

NEVER, NEVER until they have had frost on them.

That's interesting. I have always dug some when I can see a decent size
crown. Depends on the variety perhaps? I can't tell the difference, frost
or no frost. I grow "Tender and True" and "Hollow Crown"
I have not grown anything this year, so perhaps I am out of date.

Baz

David Hill wrote in news:ab0fskFfg6jU1
@mid.individual.net:

On 07/09/2012 23:32, Sue wrote:
Jim S" wrote
JakeD wrote in
Hello!

I'd appreciate some advice on parsnip harvesting. I planted a good
number of them in the Spring. Now they are almost three ft tall,
with
bright green healthy leaves. When should I start digging them up?
I'm
in the Southwest of England, in case that makes a difference... I
read
somewhere that it's best not to wait until after a couple of frosts
have occurred in the autumn. Is that good advice?

Thanks,

J

NEVER, NEVER until they have had frost on them.

They always do taste better after they've had a couple of frosts on
them. We normally leave ours in the ground and dig a couple up
whenever
we want to use them. Unless it was likely to freeze really hard for a
long time I don't think they'd come to much harm.



If you have plenty then do your own test, try some before frosting and
the rest after.
Peoples tastes vary, but I always prefer them frosted, to the extent
that I will sometimes put shop bought parsnips out if we are due a
frosty night.

I wonder whether a spell in the deep-freezemight work?
I believe it's something to do with sugar content, but perhaps they
should still be 'living' for it to happen.
Try here http://www.selfsufficientish.com/parsnip.htm

--
Jim S
Tyneside UK
www.jimscott.co.uk

Jim S wrote in
2:

David Hill wrote in news:ab0fskFfg6jU1
@mid.individual.net:

On 07/09/2012 23:32, Sue wrote:
Jim S" wrote
JakeD wrote in
Hello!

I'd appreciate some advice on parsnip harvesting. I planted a good
number of them in the Spring. Now they are almost three ft tall,
with
bright green healthy leaves. When should I start digging them up?
I'm
in the Southwest of England, in case that makes a difference... I
read
somewhere that it's best not to wait until after a couple of frosts
have occurred in the autumn. Is that good advice?

Thanks,

J

NEVER, NEVER until they have had frost on them.

They always do taste better after they've had a couple of frosts on
them. We normally leave ours in the ground and dig a couple up
whenever
we want to use them. Unless it was likely to freeze really hard for a
long time I don't think they'd come to much harm.



If you have plenty then do your own test, try some before frosting and
the rest after.
Peoples tastes vary, but I always prefer them frosted, to the extent
that I will sometimes put shop bought parsnips out if we are due a
frosty night.

I wonder whether a spell in the deep-freezemight work?
I believe it's something to do with sugar content, but perhaps they
should still be 'living' for it to happen.
Try here http://www.selfsufficientish.com/parsnip.htm


You will be our guide.

Baz

Yes, I was told it's because the plant, as a cold defence, converts some of the starch in the roots into sugar. So it does need to be alive. They're still alive when you buy them (which is why you can grow parsnip tops in saucers of water). Putting them in a deepfreeze should kill them effectively ;-)

Maybe leaving them in the fridge for a while would work? After all, a frost above ground doesn't necessarily mean the root below ground freezes.