SB This winter has been soooo much better than last. And for one reason only, OH has been growing parsnips!! It was so aweful going through our first winter in France without any that last Spring we planted some and WELL, they were unbelievable. Family size parsnips is an understatement, they were MASSIF. Must be all the cowsh1t we have round here draining into the soil. One parsnip was enough for the two of us to have roast parsnips with our Sunday lunch and spicy cream of parsnip soup for starters. And surprisingly for their size, they weren't in the slightest bit woody. Get some kind person in the UK to send you a pack of seeds and have a go. They need to be in the soil for a long time April/May, to the first frosts (oops, that might be a problem for you lot down there!) But from November onwards, it's well worth the wait!!