I dug some parsnips today and will be roasting them with butter for dinner tonight.


The ground was finally thawed enough to dig them.

Sally - you are making me hungry for potatoes now. Sigh. I am trying to keep my starches down a bit but it's hard in the winter to not have potatoes. We did have quinoa last night with sauteed fresh kale, broccoli and red peppers with a dose of Asiago cheese. Yum. DH tolerated it.
tve - how to you overwinter root veggies in the ground? We're in pretty much the same zone but you might get more snow than I.

I just leave the parsnips where they were growing all summer, and dig them in the spring. I don't think that would work for all root crops though, I've had a few beets some years that I didn't harvest and by spring they were mush.

tve - do you have to add any mulch on top of the parsnips over winter?

Tom, what variety of parsnips do you prefer?

Cindy, I don't put anything over them, just leave them.

Sandy, I planted Hollow Crown last year. They seem to do well here. They tasted great last night too. I will be getting them again.

Tom,
You had me at roasted and killed me with the butter, lol!

Cindy,
Oh YUM!!

Tom,
I know you can leave carrots out too, but not sure if all winter. They might go soft like your beets. I've always wanted to try, so maybe with the raised beds I'll do a small fall sowing and mulch heavily. I'd sure like to taste them sweetened up.

I think I'll have to buy some parsnips at my local produce market to see if I like the taste to grow them. I've only had some from the grocery store.
(Now that I've had breakfast, I can maintain self-control when talking about eating. )

I should have enough for about 3 more meals. Then I should have my Parsnip fix for a while, and can look forward to my asparagus binge! Then comes the long wait for that first ripe tomato!

So should I plant Turnips or not? It is early, maybe I can get a decent crop.

I'm waiting for the asparagus binge, too -- I think it's going to be early this year!

Newyorkrita said:So should I plant Turnips or not? It is early, maybe I can get a decent crop.

If you like them and have space, why not. I think you can plant them later and still get a crop.

tveguy3 said:

If you like them and have space, why not. I think you can plant them later and still get a crop.

I have been thinking about them for the past few days and still have them on my mind. So that tells me I really do want to plant some I think. Not many but some would be nice to have. I think I will just do it. Thanks for the encouragement.

Tom,
Asparagus!!

Rita,
If you have room go ahead and plant turnips. I usually plant enough to eat right away. Fall planting would give you a second chance to eat them.

All this talk of vegetables and I bought a rutabaga the other day.

Yes, I will plant some. I missed them in the past year because I didn't plant.

I'm going to plant a few rutabagas this year -- I love having them without the wax coating the ones in the grocery come with. I've had some problems with root maggots in the past, though -- anyone have suggestions for preventing them?

Weedwhacker said:I'm going to plant a few rutabagas this year -- I love having them without the wax coating the ones in the grocery come with. I've had some problems with root maggots in the past, though -- anyone have suggestions for preventing them?

I grew them one year. Those things grew really huge. Not the tops but the bulb thing. They really do remind me of turnips.

I always grow a few rutabagas, not a lot, just a 4 ft. row. I like them cooked and mashed with butter, but also like them in boiled dinner, and veggie soup.

My space this year for root veggies is quite limited so I will probably not so any rutabagas this year. Well, maybe just a few.

not sure if this was mentioned earlier as I just 'dropped in' but can't you store your carrots in a crawl space (if 50F or less) in sawdust or the like. Same with Cabbage and potatoes...