Brassica rapasubsp. rapa
I like to think of planning my garden as a balancing routine .
While it takes a bite of self - chasteness each year to keep from filling every column inch of my yard with juicy Lycopersicon esculentum , crunchy cucumbers , and giant sunflowers , I always appreciate the space I fix aside for store crops amount winter .
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Spectators throw turnips at the Jarramplas (the Devil) as he makes his way through the streets beating his drum during the Jarramplas Festival in Piornal, Spain. Photo via Fotoeventis / Shutterstock.
While perhaps not the most thrilling crop of the season , I sleep with turnip for their hearty reliability , nutritional value , and gravid storage potential .
What You’ll Learn
What are Turnips?
Turnips are root crops and members of the leaf mustard family with a long history of human cultivation . Plants have slimly haired green leaves , little lily-livered bloom , and lily-white or chicken bulbs , with acme that can turn majestic or green when exposed to sunlight as they develop above the filth .
Though you may only be aware of the classic purple top salmagundi get in grocery fund , this various crop comes in many cultivar varying in size , color , and flavor .
Cultivation and History
While they may not seem that fascinating at first glance , turnips have a long and rich history of human and creature use . This root crop traces back to at least Roman times , where they were a well - constitute part of the human dieting . They probably originated from somewhere in West Asia or Europe , as furious variety can be obtain in those areas .
Turnips have long been a crop of last resort and have save many people from starving throughout history .
During WW1 , the wintertime of 1916 - 1917 was know as the “ turnip wintertime ” in Germany . The country was in the midst of a blockade , had suffered a failed potato crop , and was facing a dearth . Most of the country finish up live on turnips and yellow turnip , the only crops uncommitted .
Spectators throw turnips at the Jarramplas (the Devil) as he makes his way through the streets beating his drum during the Jarramplas Festival in Piornal, Spain. Photo via Fotoeventis / Shutterstock.
alike , during WWII , British people also relied hard on turnips amidst intellectual nourishment deficit .
Often considered the food of the poor , in medieval Europe they were usually thrown at criminals in store .
Each January in the small town of Piornal , Spain , there is a centuries former festival called Jarramplas , during which a volunteer dresses up as a devil - like character in coloured garb and a horn mask , roaming the city while bystander pelt them with turnip !
So how can you become part of the Brassica rapa custom ? Read on to learn how to maturate your own for storing , feeding , or shed at passersby , though I for sure do n’t excuse the latter .
Propagation
lineal sow seeds into well drained filth , in Sunday or fond shade , and rake in at a one-half in deep . you could set out planting in springiness , as soon as stain temperature reach 40 degrees F.
turnip fly high in cooler weather , as too much heating system can cause roots to become woody and encourages early decamp , so the key is to get your seed in the primer before temperatures get too spicy .
Since cool spring conditions are unretentive lived in many climate , leaping is a great sentence to turnip or theirquick to mature greens !
If you happen to live in a climate where the spring up time of year is long and coolheaded , it is possible to plant every few weeks in succession for a continuous crop . Otherwise , expect and sow again in belated summer for a drop harvest . Turnip theme modernize especially well in coolheaded fall temperatures and become odorous after a few light frost .
Be sure to keep the soil moist after sowing until sprout appear . Once plants are a few inches tall , thin plants to 4 to 6 column inch aside .
calculate for More Cold Weather Loving surrender crop ?
Then check out our guide : The 19 Best Cool - Weather Crops for a rich Fall Garden
How to Grow
Growing and maintaining turnips is pretty easy . They are fast growing , reliable , and relatively low maintenance .
It is not necessary to fecundate plants once they are in the dry land since they rise so quickly . As long as the soil is rich in constitutional fabric when you sow in the seeds , they should be glad .
It is also important to be sure that plants incur consistent water , about an inch per week , to develop healthy roots , however they also should not become waterlogged , as too much wet can cause disease .
Growing Tips:
Cultivars to Select
Best for Greens: Seven Top
This motley does n’t develop edible roots , but alternatively puts all vim into lush leave .
‘ Seven Top ’
If you are only interested in greens , this is a bang-up pick .
discover seed at Eden Brothers .
Best All-Around: Purple Top White Globe
This long - time favorite produces mildly sweet-flavored large etymon that grow up to 6inches in diameter and are quick for harvest in 45 - 65 day .
‘ Purple Top White Globe ’
Greens can be harvested multiple clip as well .
Seeds can be find at True Leaf Market .
Managing Pests and Disease
Pests
Although turnips are brave if left unmolested , they are a brassica and as such , have a wad of different kinds of insects and other pests that love to feed on them .
Many types of leaf eating caterpillars enjoy pick on turnip greens and feed on surfaces of leaf . Some common ones includecabbage loopers , beet army worm , and Crotalus adamanteus moths . You may find them feeding on the surface of brassica leaves . Caterpillar can be handpicked or sprayed with bT if needed .
These small , diffused bodied ova - shaped pests like to lactate sap from deep within the leaf . They allow behind a sticky wastefulness name honeydew , which can attract mildew to plants . Try spray with a result of fulsome water , neem oil , or sprinkle diatomaceous earthly concern on flora every couple of weeks .
Read more about aphid mastery here .
Cutworms are nocturnal Caterpillar that live in soil and feed on stems and low-toned hanging leaves of young plants . These pesky little insect can destroy an entire row of seedlings in a dark . you could localise a composition or composition board ring around the bow of untried plant life to protect them from damage , or disperse wood ash around the base of operations of the industrial plant . sunflower also draw in cutworms , so taste come in them around garden edges . You will lure away the worms and tot up beautiful colour to your garden at the same prison term !
Read more about distinguish and manage cutworms here .
Cabbage maggots can tunnel through the solution causing plants to wilting and shrivel . The flies of these minor grey worms consist their egg in the soil near industrial plant and seedlings . Sprinkling wood ash tree around the base of the plant or planting when weather condition is drier can aid dissuade shekels maggot .
say more about control cabbage root maggots here .
These tiny insect hold up on the underside of leaves and look like moths when in flight . Like aphids , they produce honeydew melon , which attracts a mold that can step in with photosynthesis in the plants . Spray with soapy water supply or garlic fossil oil .
We have a template on whitefly control here .
demand More Pest Control Information ?
Read our terminated white turnip pest control guide now .
Disease
While turnips are susceptible to several fungal and bacterial infection , as well as rot , and nutritive deficiency , job can be well prevented with a snatch of forethought . splay crop regularly to keep disease banquet , plant life in nutrient fertile soil , and be certain to keep plants from getting waterlogged .
These grey or snowy spots form and spread on the leaves and can deflower crops . More info on treating Brassica rapa with leaf spotcan be find oneself here .
This causes areas of white fuzz to form on the underside of folio and can also damage roots . find out more about downy mildew on turnip harvest here .
This fungus have leaves and stem become sensationalistic , and stem to develop galls . Clubroot can live in the soil for at least 7 years after an initial infection . To combat clubroot , remove all sham plants and root from the country and rotate crop . You should nullify planting turnips or related family members in infected dirt for at least 7 age . You may also take planting resistant cultivars .
This can cause dark smirch to come out on turnip origin flesh and can destroy the root system . It can also show up as rot on store roots . To combat blackleg , exercise regular crop rotation and take away any roots from the surrounding dirt .
Need More Disease Control Information ?
Read our staring Turnip Disease Identification and Control Guide now .
Harvesting
When to harvest your turnips is partially up to you . It largely depend on whether you are glean primarily for greens , whether you prefer larger , solid bulbs or honeyed cranky vernal root . Other factors that affect harvest time let in cultivar and farm precondition .
To harvest both greens and root , you may pull the whole plant with leaves and root together when plants are about 2 inches in diameter , or you may top leaf when they are about a foot farsighted and harvest roots later when they are 3 to 5 in in diameter , calculate on taste and salmagundi .
Since cutting the leave reduces the ability of the plant to store the solar energy need to fuel root maturation , only cut greens once . Another option is to remove only the extraneous parting on each plant , allowing inner leave to continue to excite root word growth . This may allow you to glean leaf from the same flora more than once .
glean your crepuscle crop after a few easy frosts but before a laborious freeze . Although the plants can survive repeated freeze , repeated freeze and thawing can cause the texture of the roots suffers , make wisecrack or molder .
Preserving
When in good order stash away , roots can keep for several months . The idealistic storage temperature is between 32 - 35 degrees F , so the fridge is ideal . If you have a larger craw , you could also keep them in a juiceless root root cellar or service department .
Quick Reference Growing Chart
Tell a Turnip Tale
With their sharp tasty green , sugared attender roots , and bewitching historical meaning , turnip are so much more than they are given credit for !
So why not save a corner of your garden to found a small patch this season ? you may enjoy spicy green turnip salads all spring and hearty roots through gloam . And wintertime if you store them well !
And do n’t forget the entertaining dinner conversation that can be sparked by a timeless turnip tale .
And if you found this guide valuable , you ’ll also find some more good information here :
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About
Heather Buckner
