Parsnip - Strip

No Christmas dinner would be complete without a side order of parsnips. The flavoursome roots are delicious roasted but can also be added to soups and stews. They're easy to grow although they take a long time to mature – seeds sown in spring won't yield roots until autumn.

Parsnips are a rich source of vitamin C, which helps to maintain healthy teeth and gums. They're high in dietary fibre to reduce cholesterol and aid digestion.

Parsnips are ready to harvest from autumn. For the sweetest parsnips, don't harvest until after the first frosts. They can be kept in the ground until you're ready to eat them.