When to pull?

[pumpy]

Ha! not what you lot thought! This is the first year that i've grown parsnips & swedes.I was wondering how to tell when they are ready to pull/store. Is it a case of waiting for the foliage to die, or something? Answers, please, on a postcard.......

[Jandra]

It is a very exact science! :-)

They are not growing that much anymore, now, but you can leave tham in as long as there are no hard or continuous frosts. Just dig as you need the. At least, that's what I do.

Happy eating, Jandra

[Millymollymandy]

Parsnips - just delve under the soil surface a bit to see the diameter of the top of the parsnip. If it looks big enough then dig it out! (don't try to pull or you'll snap it in half - they are often a foot or longer and need to be excavated carefully - well at least chez moi they do!).

[pumpy]

Thanks, both.