There are 3 main shapes of Parsnip – (Latin name – Pastinaca sativa ssp. sativa)
- bulbous types with rounded shoulders
- wedge types which are broad and long
- bayonet types which are long and narrow
John has grown these magnificent bayonet shaped parsnips on his allotment in Yorkshire.
Bayonet Parsnip
Parsnip – Bayonet
The bayonet parsnip above is 10″ or 26 cm long! John boasts that these parsnips are just the thinnings! The final crop of bayonet shaped parsnips will be much larger!
Bulbous and wedge shaped parsnips are much easier to harvest than the bayonet shaped parsnip, which grows deep into the ground and is liable to snap off when being dug.