Guidelines for successful turnip cultivation
Turnips, a delightful member of the Brassica family, are versatile vegetables that can be enjoyed cooked as a side dish, roasted, or added to winter stews. However, growing them successfully requires careful attention to their sowing, spacing, watering, problem-solving, and harvesting needs.
Sowing -----------------
Turnip seeds are best sown directly into fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. They grow quickly, so direct sowing is preferred over transplanting to avoid twisted roots. Sow turnips 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost of spring for best results. Plant seeds about 1/4 inch deep, with around nine seeds per square foot if using intensive planting methods such as square foot gardening. To ensure a continuous supply, sow successive crops every 2 to 3 weeks.
Spacing ---------
Thin seedlings shortly after emergence to prevent overcrowding and to promote healthy root development. Aim to harvest roots when they reach around 5cm-7cm diameter. For spacing, consider mature plant size so each turnip has enough room to grow to its full size without competition. Thin seedlings out to 10-15 cm apart for early, smaller roots, and 23 cm for showstopper-sized turnips.
Watering ----------
Turnips prefer consistent moisture to grow tender roots. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Deep watering encourages strong root growth; avoid shallow watering that promotes shallow roots vulnerable to stress. For established plants, water deeply 2-3 times per week, adjusting frequency according to soil type and climate.
Problem-Solving ----------------
Avoid transplanting turnips since it can lead to deformed roots. Thin plants properly—some early harvesting can help remaining plants grow larger. Monitor for soil fertility and pH; turnips thrive best in fertile soil with good drainage. Organic matter or compost improves the soil. If growing in hot or dry environments, use mulching to conserve moisture and consider drip irrigation for efficient watering. Companion planting is important; group turnips with plants that have similar water and soil preferences to avoid nutrient or water competition.
Harvesting -----------
Harvest turnips when roots are young and tender, typically at 5cm-7cm in diameter for best flavor and texture. Store turnips without their tops to keep roots firm. Successive crops can ensure a steady harvest throughout the growing season. Turnips can be picked as needed all through the winter months.
Turnips store well, but young turnips are best eaten fresh to savour the sweetness of the tender roots. You can harvest and eat turnip leafy greens as well.
Turnip Varieties -----------------
Consider growing popular turnip varieties such as 'Purple Top Milan', 'Tokyo Cross' RHS AGM, 'Green Globe', 'Snow Ball', 'Oasis' RHS AGM, and 'Snowball'. For turnip tops, sow seeds in closer rows just 15cm apart.
To help turnips combat club root, improve drainage and make the soil more alkaline by adding lime, as club root virus won't thrive in alkaline soil. Flea beetle makes small holes in turnip leaves and causes damaged areas to turn brown; growing plants under horticultural fleece, keeping the soil moist, and using good fertiliser can help prevent flea beetle.
Turnips can be grown in early spring or late summer. By following these guidelines—direct sowing in fertile soil with appropriate spacing, consistent deep watering, vigilant thinning, and timely harvesting—you will successfully grow healthy turnips with good flavor and texture.
Here are the sentences containing the words 'lifestyle', 'home-and-garden', and 'gardening':
- Incorporating gardening into your home-and-garden lifestyle, most particularly in grow seasons like spring, can result in a bountiful harvest of versatile vegetables, such as turnips, which can improve your nutritional lifestyle.
- Transforming your home-and-garden lifestyle by following the aforementioned guidelines on direct sowing, spacing, watering, problem-solving, and harvesting can lead to cultivating a lush garden that adds beauty and fresh produce to your overall lifestyle.
