When to harvest parsnips
Are you growing parsnips for the first time? Do you need to know when the best time is to harvest your parsnips for delicious root vegetables? Here you will find out when to harvest parsnips at there best time. There is nothing better than growing your own vegetables and tasting your hard work and effort you have put into growing your vegetables.
Parsnips have a long growing period so do not think you will be picking these after a few weeks. The magic to having great tasting parsnips is the cold frost at the end of the year. The question you are thinking is why would frost make the parsnip taste better? Carry on reading to find out what the magic of frost is.
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When are parsnips ready to harvest?
Parsnips will take on average 4 to 5 months to grow to maturity. You can actually leave the parsnips in the ground over winter until you actually need them so there is no chance of the parsnips rotting once you have harvested them.
Parsnips are usually picked after a few frosty mornings. The reason behind this is that the frost will change the starch in the parsnip to sugar which gives it the beautiful nutty flavor. This is the reason why you leave parsnips in the ground and harvest after the frost.
How do you harvest parsnips?
The best bit comes to when you are actually harvesting your parsnips. All the hard work you have put into growing these delicious root vegetable.
The best way to harvest parsnips is when you actually need them only harvest what you need for that meal.
Carefully get a garden fork to ease up the parsnip out of the ground. Be careful not to stab the root of the parsnip or snap it as it will not store well if you damage the parsnip while you are harvesting them.
You should now know when to harvest parsnips at there best time to get great crops. If you need to find out more about growing parsnips you can find out here.