My Garden

Parsnips

Last post 28-07-2009 4:19 PM by Digger. 8 replies.

• 27/07/2009 01:11 PM
  Lloyd Location: Sandy Joined on: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 61	Reply | Contact Pulled my first parsnip of the year yesterday.  I know it is early, but they are a good size.  However we were very disappointed by the (complete lack of ) flavour when roasted.  I'd heard that parsnips need a frost to enhance the flavour, but had always assumed that they would be ok without the frost.  Would anyone like to comment ?  Thanks Lloyd

• 27/07/2009 01:18 PM	In reply to
  sue1002 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Joined on: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 5,200	Reply | Contact  Well done getting your parsnips to grow Lloyd, I've never had any luck with even getting them to germinate let alone getting any further. I have read that they are ready for harvesting in autumn once the foliage starts dying back, perhaps yours need a little longer for the flavour to develop a bit more.  I have also read that frosts do help enhance the flavour too. sue1002

• 27/07/2009 02:51 PM	In reply to
  Susiq Location: Northumberland Joined on: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 1,104	Reply | Contact I left mine in last year until after we had some frosts - they were HUGE, but unfortunately the core in the centre was also huge! The flavour was wonderful, but I suspect we get more frost and much earlier than where you are in Beds.

• 27/07/2009 03:37 PM	In reply to
  miranda Location: Oxfordshire Joined on: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 2,977	Reply | Contact What variety are you growing, Lloyd? Some probably taste better than others. This year I'm growing 'White Gem' and 'Hollow Crown' and find they both have good flavour. A flavourless parsnip is a huge disappointment as the good ones are delicious.

• 27/07/2009 05:16 PM	In reply to
  bogweevil Location: Joined on: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 2,043	Reply | Contact 'Nips in summer have what we euphemistically call a mild flavour in summer, with the full flavour only developing after frost.  If you are an RHS member those lovely people at Wisley can look up the reason why in their library for you.   Boggy Beware the bat-eared bogweevil

• 28/07/2009 01:12 PM	In reply to
  Lloyd Location: Sandy Joined on: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 61	Reply | Contact Thanks all for your comments.  Miranda, I'm growing Gladiator.  This is only my second year with Parsnips, so have no experience of which are good or bad varieties.  These have produced a lot of leaf growth, so I was really pleased to see that the root was of a decent size - I had expected all top and no bottom.

• 28/07/2009 01:21 PM	In reply to
  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 4,743	Reply | Contact Gladiator are a well established cultivar that grow exceptionally well, Princess is  the next best, if you can grow some gladiator in large deep tubs, you will be rewarded with excellent results. digger

• 28/07/2009 01:54 PM	In reply to
  miranda Location: Oxfordshire Joined on: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 2,977	Reply | Contact I haven't tried Gladiator, Lloyd. Hopefully your snips will sweeten up after some frost.  Hope they do!

• 28/07/2009 04:19 PM	In reply to
  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 4,743	Reply | Contact I suppose you could always harvest them,then stick them in the freezer overnight? Gladiator are a well known showbench variety Miranda, they produce really good roots as long as four feet. digger