white turnip are satisfying , nutritious root veg that man have cultivated for chiliad of years . Both the roots and leaves are comestible and delicious , and they are one of the first crop to be ready for harvest in the leaping . In this article , you ’ll learn how to originate turnips from ejaculate to enjoy a spring and fall harvest home of savory turnip roots and super acid .
You ’ll find that growing Brassica rapa from seed is incredibly sluttish . They boom in cool atmospheric condition and can allow a unclouded frost . They are fast cultivator , and some varieties are ready to glean in as picayune as 30 days .
If you have never tried planting turnips from seed before , you wo n’t be disappoint . This ancient cool - season ascendent harvest honor you with a quick and satisfying harvest and does not want much effort at all . Read on to strike how to institute turnip seeds in your home vegetable garden .
Best Tips for Growing Turnips from Seed
Turnips , or Brassica rapa , are n’t grumpy about their growing requirements . All they need is loose , fertile soil that ’s well - draining and rich in organic topic and sight of temperateness and water .
Their forgetful produce season makes them idealistic for chronological sequence planting , where warm - time of year harvest take the place of cool - weather veggies once the temperatures get warmer .
Turnips are part of the Brassicaceae plant sept . They are touch on to bok choy , Brussel sprouts , cabbage , lolly , Brassica oleracea gongylodes , Japanese radish , and rutabagas . Although they are in the main civilize as annual root crops , turnips are biennial .
They grow roots and leaves in the first growing time of year and produce yellow heyday stalks and seeds in their second year . Here are a few of the best turnip varieties to develop in your garden .
How to Plant Turnip Seeds
Like most other root crops , turnips grow well when straight - seeded . Since they grow so fast , there ’s no significant advantage to planting turnip seeds indoors in other spring .
It ’s important to knowwhen to imbed turnipsso you have a nice yield . industrial plant Brassica rapa seeds two or three weeks before your average last frost date for a belated spring harvest home . For a gloaming crop , plant again in late summer . Sow the seeds a after part to half - inch deep and cover them lightly with soil . Seed germination take three to ten days .
space between seeds should be about one inch . Once the seedlings grow four in high , thin them out so they ’re at least four to six column inch aside .
How to Grow Turnips from Seed
The bestway to plant vegetable seedslike turnip is to plant turnips in an region with fond shade to full sun , at least five or six time of day of lineal sunshine each day . Keep the soil consistently moist , as drying out may have the roots to turn woody and split .
The flora might also begin bolting , prematurely create a blossom stalk and pass to sow . Overwatering leads to problem with rot and mold . On average , Brassica rapa require about an inch of urine per week .
Hot weather may also trip bolting in turnips . The idealistic temperatures for growing turnips from ejaculate are between 40 - 75 ℉ .
Just like theway to constitute bok choy , turnips tolerate frost much unspoiled than high temperature . Colder temperatures down to about 26 ℉ may burn white turnip leaves but wo n’t wipe out the plant .
However , they require protection from a hard freezing below 25 ℉ . Insulate the plant with row covering , honest-to-god blankets and towels , or mulch .
Brassica rapa do n’t compete well with weed . Be heedful when weed to avoid damaging their shallow root . Use mulch to suppress weeds , hold back moisture , and insulate the dirt .
Harvesting and Storing Turnips
turnip are typically cherubic and more tender when they get harvested early . How long does it take turnips to get ? Brassica rapa greens are quick to harvest within a month of planting seeds . The roots grow in approximately 40 - 60 days , look on the variety .
For baby turnip , comprehend up the ancestor when they ’re one or two inches wide . For large turnips with a more full-bodied flavor , harvest when they ’re three to six inches all-embracing .
When harvest your crepuscle craw of white turnip , wait for one or two freezing dark to give . Many growers report that white turnip have a dulcet flavor after a tripping icing .
Store turnips for up to four months in a coolheaded , dark root basement that stays systematically below 40 ℉ . turnip stay tonic in the crisper draftsman of your icebox for up to two weeks .
When freeze Brassica rapa , it ’s expert to blanch them first . utilize fixed turnips within six months . Many masses wonder aboutturnip vs potatowhen seek to go low - carb . turnip are a nifty substitute .
Troubleshooting Common Pest and Disease Problems
The most predominant insects that flack turnips are aphids , flea beetles , and root maggots . Cover newly sprouted seedling with course covers to prevent insects from laying eggs on the plant .
If you notice an infestation , spray all parts of the plant with an organic insecticide like neem oil or insecticidal easy lay .
Clubroot is a common disease for Brassica plants that comes from a soil - contain fungus . Infected works have stunted , xanthous leaves and distort base .
It persists in soil for up to seven year and is gainsay to bring off . Be sure to purchase certified disease - free seeds and practice craw rotation .
Turnips are easygoing and worthwhile to grow in your garden . They ’re highly nutritious and are quick to eat within a few weeks . If you ’ve ever marvel how to plant white turnip seed , know that it ’s straight .
Just verify they get adequate sunlight and weewee , and you ’ll savor a bumper crop of turnips in both spring and fall .
If you enjoy these wind for turn turnips from come , please share this article about how to grow Brassica rapa from seed with your fellow gardener on Pinterest and Facebook .
