Turnips are cool-weather vegetables that can be grown both in spring and fall, avoiding the hot summer months. They mature very rapidly and you can enjoy both the greens and the roots. Try this ancient root vegetable that’s been grown for over 3,000 years! We’ll show you how to plant, grow, and harvest turnips this season.
About Turnips
An autumn crop, seeded in late summer, is usually sweeter and more tender than a spring crop—and pests are less of a problem. What’s wonderful about turnips is that they germinate in only a few days. Within a month, you can enjoy their bright greens, and within a second month (60 to 90 days), you can eat the swollen roots.
Turnips can be eaten raw, baked, boiled, roasted, or mashed. Prepare turnips as you would carrots. Or, try them as an alternative to potatoes; we enjoy a turnip gratin.
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Best Planting Dates for Zone 6a?
Hello! I'm looking to plant a fall crop of turnips so that they can be tucked into the root cellar for the winter. I live in zone 6a, and by the end of summer, it's still pretty hot here (80's-90's and bone-dry!) by August. What's the hottest temperatures these guys can stand and still germinate? We usually get snow after only after December, so I think I'd have plenty of time for them to mature. Thanks so much--your website is one of my favorites to consult for gardening.
turnips
I planted a row of turnips for the first time. It was early spring and the greens looked wonderful but there are no, zero bulbs. Just a root. The soil is loose, compost added and full sunlight most of the day. Any suggestions from this disappointed urban farmer?
Turnips, no bulb
Hi Dave, We’re sorry to hear this. Turnips have problems in excessive heat and compact osil but sounds like neither were an issue. We wonder if your compost-heavy soil had too much nitrogen. Lots of nitrogen will result in plenty of leafy growth but poor root growth. We would add some more phosphorus, like bone meal, to the soil if you try again.
Turnip question
My turnips are beautiful, but they don't taste very good. Is it just because they are spring turnips? Can I add something to the soil that will make them sweeter?
Turnips
Turnips do taste better when they’re an autumn crop. They’re also sweeter when young and tender. They taste more like a potato when older.
For sweeter turnips, plant in late summer or early fall and leave them in the ground beyond a light frost and they’ll taste even sweeter.
Also, raw turnips can have a bitter taste if consumed raw (for some folks) but they’ll smell and taste sweet upon cooking them properly, much like beets (but less earthy).
Turnips, how many seed to plant to harvest half a sack>
Hi, how many turnip seeds should I plant in order to harvest half a sack of turnips?
And, how much space do I need if I want to harvest half a sack of turnips?
(I am going to try out an old story/gardening anecdote that is about a hundred years old).
(I don't know the size of the sack, by the way. I am hoping an old farmer will know, back then, years ago, what is meant by half a sack). (Like how they know what a bushel and a peck are).
Sack of seeds
A sack of seed depends on how much land and quantity you are wanting to plant. Check out Sustainable Seed Company site. for seed counts and germination, to give you more specific quantities in a sack.
Roasted Turnips
Wash & quarter turnips. Drizzle & toss with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt & Rosemary leaves. Bake at 375, for about 30 minutes, tossing with a spatula about every 10 minutes to evenly brown them. Delicious!
a question to be asked
in what altitude is turnip grown? and in which variety does it fall?
Turnips
Turnips grow at low and high altitudes. They are cool-weather vegetables so ideal for high altitudes. Plant four weeks before the last frost date.
Turnip cole slaw
Best thing I do with turnips is make cole slaw with them. Delicious.
Turnip Planting
I am starting a food plot using turnips. Plot is 8000 to 10000 square feet. Any thoughts on how many lbs of seed needed using a broadcast spreader?
Turnips flowered
My turnips have flowered, can I still eat the turnip bulb?
turnip bolting
Once the turnip goes to flower/seed, the root becomes woody and tough and isn’t suitable for eating. Turnips are biennials, so they will naturally flower and go to seed (called bolting) the second year. Occasionally, though, they may bolt the first year if the plant is under stress, such exposed to extreme temperatures (both cold or hot) or lacks enough nutrients or water.
Turnip storage
I grow 60 acres of turnips. This year we are experimenting with a harvester. To harvest we had to use a topper first to top the leaves. There is still approx 3" of stalk left on top. Can we store these with that stalk still on them.
topping off turnips
Hi, Pat, We checked a few sources and they advises cutting the tops off about ½ inch from the crown (this is also recommended for carrots). A couple advise trimming to 1 inch (or at least 1 inch), the point being that you do not want to cut into the turnip. At least one source advised leaving 1 to 2 inches of tops. That’s all we’ve turned up …
beet storage
On such a large scale, it might be best to contact your county’s Cooperative Extension Service for advice. For contact information, please see:
http://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services
Turnip planting
What time of the year do I need to plant Turnip Seeds?? I have never planted but Love to eat them raw but like the smaller ones so they are not bitter. What kind do you recommend to buy!!
Thank You,
Carol Johnson
turn in for turnips
Carol, turnips grow best in temps from 40°F to 75°F, so not in the heat of winter. The best time to plant is in early spring, two to three weeks before your last spring frost date. Put your zip code in here to learn more about that: http://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates/zipcode/03444
Several varieties are mentioned above. In spring, you can also visit a nursery/gardening store and inquire about the seed varieties they have. In the meantime, consider signing up with one of the seed catalog companies (Fedco is one; google it and “seed catalog” for even more) and get on the list for a catalog.
turnips
What i was wondering is,
can you cut off just the greens and let the turnips keep growing?
small turnips
Having a difficult time getting the turnips to get to a decent size. I have planted diferent places but they are small and will not grow to any decent size.
Turning around your turnips
Chris, this could be a couple of things:
• what’s your soil pH? it should be 5.5 to 6.8.
• is your soil rich with organic matter—compost, aged manure? Turnips like rich soil.
• turnips thrive in cool temps—45°F to 75°F.
• turnips like moisture; esp in the early stages, don’t let the soil dry out.
• keep the bed weed free.
It doesn’t sound like garden pests or disease are your problem. The first best guess is soil, and everything follows.
We hope this helps!
are cooked mashed turnips the
are cooked mashed turnips the same the next day? or do they become bitter the next day? (i am preparing an emiril recipe for tomorrow, and would like to prepare this evening)
We hope your turnips were
We hope your turnips were good. You can prepare mashed turnips ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Just reheat in the microwave or in a low temp. oven.
what is meant by wet head dry
what is meant by wet head dry bed?
wet head, dry bed
Perhaps it means not to keep the roots too wet or they could rot but the leaves like to be watered ... like a decent watering but not drowning so they stand in water for awhile? That's what it sounds like to me. Doesn't seem any one else answered.
Turnip
When do I plant turnip greens
I didn't see mustard greens
I didn't see mustard greens in the list of vegetables, do I follow the same instructions as turnips and if not when do I plant them? I live in south Louisiana
Hi, Paula: Your instincts are
Hi, Paula: Your instincts are absolutely correct! Mustard and turnip have many of the same growing requirements... and you can plant your greens right now! Thanks for asking!
How do I harvest and store
How do I harvest and store the seedlings?
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