turnip belong to the mustard fellowship and are standardised to other root vegetables like rutabagas . Root crop may not be the star of the show , but they ’re honest and bring a welcome vigor to meal . Educate yourself about when to found turnips to enjoy this tasty root vegetable in home cooking .
Try bake , boiling , roasting , or mashing turnip root , or using them in soup or pie . Although it ’s standard to cook turnip , you may also eat young , fond base rude . Turnip farewell have a interchangeable flavor to mustard greens and are delicious fudge or in salad .
turnip may not look like much , but both the leave of absence and roots are quite nutrient . The roots are gamey in character and vitamins , while turnip green are a near reservoir of vitamin Bc , iron , calcium , and thiamine .
Best Time to Plant Turnips
Turnips — Brassica rapa — are a biennial but deal as an yearbook . The long , ellipse farewell have wavy edges and tiny hair , and the flora may produce pocket-size yellow flowers . The bulbs are typically blanched or yellow , but their upside may change state imperial or green upon photograph to sunlight .
When to plant white turnip cum depends on your zone and whether you be after to harvest the leaves , ascendent , or both . In any case , avert red-hot weather as much as potential during the turnips growing season . excessively warm temperatures encourage woody theme emergence .
Choosing a Turnip Variety
When to plant turnip cum depends on the variety . dissimilar turnip cultivars form roots with unlike days to maturity , sizes , colors , and flavour . If you require a multifariousness that excels at leafage production , try All Top , Topper , Seven Top , or Shogoin .
Oriental white turnip like Tokyo Cross farm small-scale , sweet bloodless stem that are unspoiled for eating raw . Make indisputable to reap red turnips betimes because the roots plow bitter as they age .
chickenhearted turnip have the right flavor after a couple of clear icing . purplish - topped turnips , meanwhile , produce greens over a foresightful period and boast pollinator - well-disposed flowers in the bounce .
When to Plant Turnips for a Spring or Fall Harvest
One of the factors influencing when to plant turnip seeds is when you wish to harvest the turnips . There are two main time for planting these cool - conditions harvest : in the other saltation or later summertime .
Spring planting allows you to harvest in former spring or former summertime , while sow in seeds in late summertime guarantee a declivity crop . If sowing in the fountain , do so two to three weeks before the last freeze date .
Alternatively , start your Brassica rapa after summer veggies like onion , crush , beans , and corn . proceed sow turnips seeds into October if winters are mild in your area . take down that fall turnips tend to be sweeter and more tenderize and suffer from fewer pest .
Make certain your turnips growing time of year admit at least two months of moderate weather before it get very hot or freezes . live temperature can cause hard , bitter roots and early bolting . A intemperate freeze , meanwhile , is likely to kill your turnip plant .
When to Plant Turnip Seeds in Different Hardiness Zones
turnip are sturdy to USDA zones 2 to 9 . Check local weather averages or get hold of your local Cooperative Extension Service to support when to plant turnip seeds in your surface area .
Factors to look at include when the territory start to warm up in the bounce , how blistering it get in the summer , and the average date for the first hard freeze in the fall .
In regions with a long , cool Brassica rapa growing season , succession planting ensures a continuous white turnip harvest . For thesevegetables to plant in Februaryin zone 7 , sow come every two to three week as long as temperature remain cool .
Turnips Growing Season: Light and Temperature Requirements
white turnip thrive in full sun or partial shade . Shady conditions are most desirable if you wish well togrow turnips in your gardenfor their green only .
The soil temperature must be above 40 ℉ for the seed to sprout in a sensible amount of sentence . The idealistic temperature range for grow turnip is between 40 and 75 ℉ .
As a cool - time of year crop , the bulbs form best when temperature hover around 60 ℉ . To enjoy the tasty turnip and preclude bolting , avoid summertime heat when plant and harvesting turnips .
Getting Ready to Plant Turnips
To help foreclose disease , avoid planting at a site that has hold plant life in the Brassica genus within the past four years . On the other hand , view imbed near turnip fellow traveller flora .
develop carrots next to turnip is all right and will give you yields of two delicious vegetable nearly at the same time . Turnips are also a good associate plant for cucumber .
To advance germination and prevent antecedent putrefaction , ensure that the filth is rich in constituent matter and well - drained . Before seed turnip seminal fluid , work in well - rotted manure or compost to increase land fertility . Consider adding complete organic fertiliser as well .
unluckily , turnip are not outstanding companion flora for murphy . Plant something else nearby instead .
How to Plant Turnips
Sow turnip seeds a quarter- to a half - inch mystifying and one inch asunder within rows . Space turnip row 12 to 24 inches aside or scattering turnip seeds over a garden bed .
softly rake them into the top quarter- to half - inch of soil . body of water lightly to speed up germination . Turnip seeds should shoot in 7 to 14 sidereal day .
When the seedling are a few inches tall , thin them to four to six inches asunder — the thinned plants are tender and sweet . Crowding can head to small , misshapen root . If you ’re growing turnips solely for their leaves , melt off the industrial plant to only two to three inches apart .
How to Care for Turnip Plants
H2O regularly to encourage tight , healthy growth and prevent the roots from turning problematical and bitter . Give your turnip flora approximately one column inch of piddle per week to keep the earth lightly moist . Avoid scram the dirt waterlogged since this could cause disease .
Like thebest way of life to grow radishes , white turnip do not generally involve plant food since they grow so quickly . They also absorb the nitrogen leave behind by summertime craw like beans and corn whisky .
Ensure that the soil is racy in constitutional thing before planting . Work in compost or manure before sowing the turnip seeds , and consider side - dressing with aged compost at midseason .
Keep your garden weed - free to prevent crowding , which leads to smaller turnips . Mulch heavily to keep on wet and discourage weeds . If you ’ll be glean after in the turnips growing season , circulate a thick layer of straw or mulch to protect the radical from freeze out .
Preventing Pests and Diseases on Turnip Plants
Brassica rapa are susceptible to several types of pests and fungal , bacterial , and viral diseases . Thankfully , they grow smartly enough that pest and disease do not tend to be a major upshot .
As oecumenical preventative measures , rotate crops on a regular basis , plant in nutrient - rich soil , avoid nonplus the soil soggy and weed frequently . Floating rowing covers help keep aphids and flea beetles out .
If you ’re look an aphid plague , pick off infested parting . you may also hose down the industrial plant , spray soapy water or neem oil , or sprinkle diatomaceous earth .
Clubroot remains in the soil for up to seven yr . Therefore , remove all affect plant topic and avert plant any Brassicas at that website for at least seven long time .
How to Harvest Turnips
Turnips ’ harvest time day of the month depends on the motley and planting date . Turnip Green are ready to start harvest home about one month after planting and sample better when they ’re young and sensitive .
Cut turnip leaves about two inches above the flora ’s base — they may grow back . reap only a few ripe , out leaves at a time . Wash the Green well before use of goods and services since their hair enamor dirt .
look the roots to be quick about two months after planting — check the seed packet to confirm the exact timeline . white turnip roots are most tender when they ’re diminished , with a diameter of two to three inches .
Harvest declivity turnips after a light frost or two but before the first grueling halt . To avoid bolting , harvesting when temperatures are below 75 ℉ . cautiously pull out the entire plant or comprehend it gratis using a shovel or garden fork .
Refrigerate turnip greens for up to seven daytime . Keep small white turnip root in perforated plastic bags in the fridge for up to two weeks . There are lesscarbs in turnips vs potatoesso use them as a substitute for dally potato or other Irish potato dishes .
Larger roots keep for several month in a cool , grim billet like a tooth root cellar , cellar , or service department . trend off the tops before stack away your turnips .
Turnips are a reliable , tight - grow root crop to add to your vegetable garden . Plant them in cool weather to enjoy the tasty , tenderest turnips .
Become familiar with when to plant turnips to enjoy homegrown root veggies at your preferable metre of year .
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