Chooks Aloud Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 ... the leaves on the parsnip plant and turnip plant? If so, do you just steam them as you would spinach? Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I know that you can eat turnip leaves but I am not sure about parsnips. Turnip leaves are a bit spikey I would leave them for the chooks myself but if you want to eat young ones lightly steam or stir-fry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 parsnip leaves are toxic and exude natural chemicals called furocoumarins. These toxins can provoke an irritating rash somewhat like poison oak if you get them on your skin or rub them in your eye. The roots don t carry the furocoumarins at all, but you will notice you never see bunched parsnips in the supermarket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks Aloud Posted April 30, 2009 Author Share Posted April 30, 2009 Thanks - I didn't know that. Can you feed them to the chooks and guinea pigs then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I wouldn't risk it. So saying that something has been munching my parsnip seedlings and it wasn't my girlies. Bit miffed that yet another year my parsnips will be few and far between. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
