When are turnips at their best?
What Are Turnips? Turnips are available all year but are at their best in the fall, when mature vegetables are fresh, and in spring, when they are still small and sweet. Larger, older turnips develop tougher skins, which can leave a bitter aftertaste and require peeling.
How big should turnips be?
How big should turnips be? Turnips and rutabagas are of best quality (mild and tender) when they are of medium size (turnips should be 2 to 3 inches in diameter and rutabagas 3 to 5 inches in diameter) and have grown quickly and without interruption. Both are hardy to fall frosts and may, in fact, be sweetened by cool weather.
How to grow lots of turnips from seed to harvest?
Turnip Care
- Light. Turnips thrive in full sun but can make do with part shade.
- Soil. Turnips prefer a slightly acidic soil pH in the range of 6.0 to 6.5. ...
- Water. At least 1 inch of water per week is vital for good root development. ...
- Temperature and Humidity. Turnips grow best in the cool weather of spring and fall.
- Fertilizer. ...
When to pick turnips?
When to Harvest Turnips
- Harvest turnips when root tops are 1 to 1½ inches in diameter but not more than 2½ inches in diameter.
- Turnips that get too big will be strong-flavored and often become tough and fibrous.
- Harvest turnip greens young and tender. ...
- Turnips are cool-season plants that grow best at temperatures between 60° and 65 °F (15-18°C). ...
Are turnips available year round?
Turnips are a root vegetable that are available year-round, but best in the fall. Bite into the fleshy white-purple bulb of a turnip for a slight bite or feast on the hearty leafy greens. Take a look at the varieties you can find in your deliveries and how to cook them!
What month are turnips in season?
Turnips can be sown from March until August. The early sown crop is susceptible to bolting and they are more commonly sown in July and August for an autumn crop.
Are turnips still in season?
Turnips are a winter crop in the United States and are normally harvested from October through March.
How do you buy fresh turnips?
Choose small turnips, which will be the youngest, with the sweetest flavor and best texture. They should be heavy for their size and firm, without any nicks or cuts. If the greens are attached, they should be brightly colored and fresh. Turnips will keep, tightly wrapped in the refrigerator, for up to two weeks.
Are Swedes the same as turnips?
Swedes and Turnips do come from the same family. Swede is a Swedish turnip, hence the name “swede”. They are bigger, tougher skinned, yellow fleshed and much hardier than a turnip. Turnips are the smaller ones, with smoother skin and white flesh.
What do turnips taste like?
Turnips are a mild, pungent tasting vegetable with a slightly bitter and spicy undertone. They taste a cross between a cabbage and a radish. Their texture is crisp and crunchy like carrots. Age can affect the flavor of a turnip with the younger version being sweeter.
What vegetable is in season right now?
Vegetables: Beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, kale, onions, sweet potatoes, squash, and turnips.
Are turnips and rutabagas the same thing?
Rutabagas (Brassica napus) are a type of oblong root vegetable similar to turnips, although rutabagas are actually the result of a cross between turnips and cabbages. They have a slightly bitter taste and are usually yellow or purple in appearance.
Do you peel turnips before you cook them?
How to prepare turnips. Baby turnips do not have to be peeled – just wash and slice off the root end. Peel winter turnips, then cut into small chunks before cooking.
How much is a pound of turnips?
After surveying the vegetable selection we discovered that 1 pound of turnips is equal to 2 to 3 large or 4 to 6 small turnips.
Are soft turnips OK to eat?
Look for turnips that feel firm and heavy for their size, with crisp flesh. Avoid turnips that are soft or flabby, or have brown, moist spots, which are signs of rot.
Can you eat baby turnips raw?
Cut baby turnips into wedges and enjoy them raw with a dip or shave them into a salad. Pickle them in a sweet and salty brine. Sauté or stir-fry baby turnips with their greens.
What is a turnip vegetable?
The vegetable is characterized by a white round-ish shape, with a beautiful crowning blush of purple, and a green leafy stem. As a member of this family, the turnip is known for its high nutrient count and its low-calorie density, making it a perfect food to add to your healthy eating plan.
How long do you boil turnips?
Place peeled turnips in a pot of salted water to cover. Bring to a boil. Cook 20 to 30 minutes or until turnips can be pierced easily with a knife.
How long to cook turnips in Dutch oven?
Melt margarine in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and shallots and sauté for 4 minutes. Add turnips, sauté 2 minutes. Stir in water and broth, bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer 30 minutes, or until turnips are tender.
Directions
Combine all the ingredients. Toss well & chill, covered in the refrigerator.
Directions
Put the whole, peeled turnips in a pot of water and boil until somewhat softened. Remove and set aside to cool.
Directions
In a bowl combine all ingredients; toss and then chill until serving time.
Directions
Place the vegetable bouillon cube into a saucepan with the water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until the bouillon cube dissolves, about 1 minute. Stir in the turnips, onion, and garlic, return to a boil and cook the mixture until the turnips are tender, about 10 minutes.
Directions
Place potatoes, turnips, garlic and 12 sage leaves in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the vegetables are fork-tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain. Return the vegetables to the pan and keep covered.
How to grow big turnips?
In advance, mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost or aged manure in addition to some sand if soil has a lot of clay in order to improve drainage.
How long does it take to harvest turnips?
Harvest roots at any time; however, small, young turnips are more ender. Harvest early types after about 5 weeks; maincrop types after 6 to 10 weeks. For fall turnips, consider harvesting after one or two light frosts (but before a hard freeze) for a sweeter taste.
Why are turnips confused with rutabagas?
Wit & Wisdom. “Turnips like a dry bed but a wet head.”. Turnips are often confused with rutabagas because they are similar, and people like to plant them together. The two root vegetables grow well under the same conditions, but rutabagas take about four weeks longer to mature.
How long does it take for turnips to germinate?
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.
Why do turnips bolt?
They naturally flower and go to seed (bolt) in the second year. Bolting in the first year could be due to stress, such as caused by extreme temperatures (cold or hot) or lack of nutrients or water.
How long do turnips last in the refrigerator?
Store for up to 3 or 4 months in a cool (32° to 38°F), dark place such as a root cellar or store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If storing in the refrigerator, keep turnips in a perforated plastic bag. It’s important that the turnips do not dry out, but also that they do not become moldy from too much moisture.
How long do turnips need to blanch?
To freeze, wash, cut into ½-inch cubes, blanch for 3 minutes, cool immediately in cold water, and drain. Pack into containers, label, and freeze.
Where do turnips grow?
Even though we usually grow turnips from seed, you can grow turnips from the bottom of the stalk where the roots normally grow. The University of Nevada’s College of Agriculture fundies say the best approach is to cover the roots and base with soil and to leave the top exposed.
How long does it take for turnips to grow?
They are quick growing and you can harvest the young and tender greens throughout the growing season. Turnip roots take 40-60 days to mature.
What is the best zone for turnip greens?
Amazingly, turnips and turnip greens grow successfully in USDA zones 2 to 11. That’s just about anywhere! Zone 2. -50 to -40°F (-45.6 to -40°C) Zone 11. 40 to 50°F (4.4 to 10°C) Here are a few examples of different planting zones in a small selection of diverse U.S. states.
What is the family of turnips?
How to Grow Turnips. Turnips ( Brassica rapa) are members of the Brassica family and the same species as Chinese cabbage and bok choy. But growing them is similar to growing most other brassicas, including cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and mustard. Make sure you weed your turnip patch regularly.
How long do you have to mulch turnips?
You can harvest the greens right through the growing season. But don’t over-harvest or it will stunt the roots. You can harvest turnips after about 5 weeks if you like them small and young.
What is the best temperature to plant turnips?
Zone 13. 60 to 70°F (15.6°C to 21°C) It’s important to realize that the different states don’t fall into just one planting zone. The same applies to other countries, including Canada, that have gardening zones for hardiness and heat. When it comes to turnips, you can plant the seeds in early spring or in the fall, ...
What is USDA hardiness zone?
Defined by temperature, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant hardiness zone map is the accepted standard for growers and home gardeners. It’s a very easy tool to determine which plants will grow best in the various temperature zones.
Varieties
Turnips are infamous for being an unreliable crop - a variety successful on one plot can be disastrous on another. Popular varieties include Purple Top Milan, Atlantic, and Golden Ball.
Nutrition
'Roots' and leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals including notable quantities of vitamin C. The greens are also an excellent source of folic acid and calcium
Storage
In a cool, slightly damp place out of direct sunlight (like a root cellar) unwashed turnips will keep for between three and five months. Make sure they're not in contact with each other so the air can circulate freely. In the fridge they should be good for about a fortnight, and the greens for a couple of days.
Basic cooking
Chop off the leaves and long root, peel, slice, braise or sauté and glaze them as they do in France, or roast chunks in a medium oven for 40-50 minutes with a little honey. If plainness is required boil or steam chunks for 20 minutes. The greens are tolerant of all sorts of techniques from a brief steaming to inclusion in soups and stews.
History and Cultivation
Once reserved for the rural poor, these root vegetables are now all the rage in Asia and America.
Propagation and Planting
It is easiest to directly sow these seeds in your garden, and then thin as necessary.
Plant Uses
Boiled, roasted, or added to stews, this European variety makes a great addition to any dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Turnip seeds are best directly sown in the garden spring through fall, covered with row cover, and kept consistently moist. Turnips don’t need much care aside from weeding (careful not to disturb the roots) and irrigation. A lack of water will ultimately yield bitter, tough turnips.
Final Thoughts
Turnips are a humble root with a long history of enjoyment in cultures around the world. They’re a great way to add diversity to the cool-weather garden, as well as a refreshing early summer snack. The most important thing to remember about growing turnips is that they need consistent moisture to remain tender and tasty.
How long do turnips keep?
Make sure the location is dry or the roots will get moldy spots. They should keep for several months, just like onions and potatoes, if humidity levels are less than 90 percent.
How long does it take for turnips to grow?
Maturation from seed varies from 28 to 75 days. The larger varieties take longer to reach full size. You can also take them when they are small for a sweeter, milder flavor. Turnips are seeded in spring or fall, but the fall crops need to be harvested before heavy freezes.
How to keep turnips in the ground?
In temperate zones, the turnip harvest is kept in the ground longer by piling mulch around the plants to protect the roots from freezing.
How to store turnips after harvesting?
Storage of Harvested Turnips. After harvesting a turnip root, cut the greens off and store in a cool spot. The ideal temperature is 32 to 35 degrees F. (0-2 C.), which makes the refrigerator an excellent place to keep the roots. If you have a large turnip harvest, put them in a box lined with straw in a cool cellar or garage.
How long does it take to harvest turnips?
Harvesting A Turnip Root: How And When To Harvest Turnips. Turnips are a root vegetable that grow quickly and are ready for harvest in as little as two months. There are many varieties to choose from and each has a slightly different mature date. When are turnips ready for picking?
How big do turnips get?
These are best taken when they are 2 inches (5 cm.) in diameter. Those that are topped, which means the greens are removed, are harvested when 3 inches (8 cm.) in diameter. The actual time for harvesting a turnip root is determined by the variety and your growing conditions.
Can you harvest turnip greens?
Turnip greens are nutritious, versatile vegetables. You can harvest them from any variety of turnip but this will impede production of the root. There are varieties of turnip that produce large heads of greens and are sown just for harvesting turnip greens. Only cut the green s once if you want a turnip harvest of roots.