Parsnips are easy to grow, need little maintenance and can be left in the garden until you’re ready to use them. The sweetest of any root vegetable, they occupy the ground throughout the winter season for harvesting as needed.

How To Grow

Sew the seeds in drills 1cm deep, place one seed every 2cm along the drill. Cover the drills over and water. When the seedlings are about 2.5cm high thin out to leave one seedling per 15cm station. Keep the soil weed free, hand weeding close to the roots to avoid disturbing the soil along the rows. Keep the soil evenly moist to avoid splitting.

How/When To Harvesting

Wait for a few frosts before you begin lifting the roots. This causes the starch to convert to sugar, dramatically improving their flavour. The roots are ready to lift when the foliage starts to die down in autumn, use a fork to carefully lift them.