Traditional parsnips

As my family grows up and develops, little traditions become part of the fabric of life. One of these traditions is the growing of parsnips for Christmas dinner. I can honestly say that I never bought a single parsnip seed but have grown each and every one from plants that have seeded on my allotment. During the first year of my first plot, a magnificent structural plant appeared at the over grown area at the back of my plot. It had the most stunning yellow umbrella flowers and turned out to be a parsnip that had gone to seed. If left, parsnips are prolific seeders that spread their featherweight seeds near and far. I let them grow where there land and leave them until they are just big enough to eat before weeding them out. I save handfuls for Charlie as he loves playing with seeds so parsnips pop up all over the place.

It may seem early but I freeze them for Christmas as I usually need the space for other crops and they just grow all over. This year however things may well be a little different as my dearest mother-in-law will be missing and it was her who liked the parsnips so and the fact that I had grown them. There are too many family traditions that will not be the same now that she has gone but I think I might just continue growing the parsnips each year.

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