Turnips Get No Respect,Turnips Get No Respect

And it’s really too bad if one considers that turnips go back 4,000 years. This lowly root crop is very versatile in that it does well in cool weather. For us, this means it can be planted in the fall or winter, coming to maturity before hot weather strikes. You can plant seeds of turnips right now!

In the garden, turnips are easy to grow and highly productive. In the kitchen, its roots can be used like potatoes and its nutritious greens prepared like those of mustard. With all this going for it, you would think more of us would be growing – and eating – turnips.

Different varieties offer a nice choice of colors and shapes. “Purple Top White Globe” is probably the most commonly grown. The large white roots have purple shoulders, and are best when harvested when no more than two inches in diameter. There are also French and Japanese varieties. The Japanese have been hybridizing turnips for years and produce some of the tastiest white-rooted types. “Tokyo Cross” was a 1969 All America Selections winner.

Turnips will be either globe shaped or what is called flattened globe. Colors range from white topped with purple, solid white and creamy yellow. Rutabagas are related, being a tasty kind of turnip with large yellowish roots.

Again, the key to growing your own turnips is cool weather. They are quick growing and are best used as soon as they are big enough. Our frosty weather won’t hurt them a bit. Give them regular water if it doesn’t rain and stand back. Go ahead and sow turnip seeds thinly, about a quarter of an inch deep. When the seedlings are three inches high, thin them to three-inch spacings. There is no need to thin turnips if you’re growing them only for greens.

Since turnips are a root crop, they do best in rich, loose soil. I plant all my turnips in raised beds where I work in compost, peat moss and planting mix every so often to make sure the soil hasn’t hardened. Turnips require constant moisture, but do not like “wet feet.” If you’ve prepared the soil properly with good drainage, there won’t be any problem. Water deeply once a week as slow erratic watering can cause bolting.

Speaking of bolting, turnips can also be grown all the way until around June. When our hot weather arrives, turnips will bolt and be done with very quickly. Thus, it’s best to plant from fall through spring.

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