If you leave parsnips in the soil over winter, throw a few inches of soil over the crowns after the first fall frosts. Stored starches are changed to sugar in early spring as the old plants prepare for new growth, thus roots harvested in early spring are especially tender and sweet. However, you need to pull them in early spring or as soon as possible, before they flower. Otherwise, the roots lose flavor and become fibrous if you do not harvest them before new tops and seed stalks begin to grow.
If you leave parsnips in the soil over winter, throw a few inches of soil over the crowns after the first fall frosts. Stored starches are changed to sugar in early spring as the old plants prepare for new growth, thus roots harvested in early spring are especially tender and sweet. However, you need to pull them in early spring or as soon as possible, before they flower. Otherwise, the roots lose flavor and become fibrous if you do not harvest them before new tops and seed stalks begin to grow.