perfect parsnip

I have written about the method I use to grow baby parsnips to avoid the problems that come with their long slow germination.

Parsnip seeds are sown into newspaper cylinders of peat free compost and watered. When the young plants are showing two strong leaves, they are dropped into planting holes in their tubes. The newspaper melts away as the young plants grow over the spring and summer.

This year, I did not 'thin out' each tube to leave one strong plant but left each with three or four little plants. I was concerned that this could lead to too many small plants but on first inspection this is not the case.

Here, after a wet summer is the product. 6 inches in diameter (15cm) and 18 inches long (45cm), with good flavour.