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Root crop leaves eaten

AshleafAshleaf Posts: 7
in Fruit & veg
Something (deer are the prime suspects) has eaten all the foliage off my parsnips and beetroot.  Will the roots still be ok underground? I’m assuming no but hoping yes. I’ll protect them next year. There’s no way I can keep the deer out of the garden. Thanks.

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    They will survive but won't get any larger unless they grow new leaves (which they might at this time of the year.)  If there is no sign of new leaves within a couple of weeks then you may as well harvest them as they will go to straight to seed next year and will be worthless as vegetables.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    Parsnips will keep in the soil until required, until the spring when then second year growth starts, they get woody
  • AshleafAshleaf Posts: 7
    Thank you both - that’s just what I needed to know.
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