how big can a turnip grow

Full Answer

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 big is a turnip?

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. Also question is, can turnips get too big?

Is turnip an underground stem?

Underground stem is a stem modification i.e it arises from the plumule. ... Some examples are beets, carrots, Chinese radish, horseradish, radish, sweet potatoes, tapioca, turnip and yam beans. These roots are distinguished from underground stems by lacking nodes or leaf scars (left after a leaf has dropped off) ...

Is turnip and beets the same?

Turnips are another beautiful root vegetable. However, turnips and beets are different things. They look and taste so alike; hence struggling to differentiate them is a possibility. They are both root vegetables, but turnips have larger bulbs than beets. Beets usually have a purple hue with a white or purple inside. At the same time, turnips occur in different colors.

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Can turnips get too big?

Overly large turnips will become tough. Thinned plants make excellent cooked greens, and may be tender enough for salads. “Purple Top” is by far the most common grown variety in the United States, but there are many to choose from, including varieties grown just for greens.

How big should turnips be?

If harvesting for both the root and the leaves, the turnip should be about 2 inches in diameter, but if the leaves have been harvested first, the turnip should be 3 inches in diameter when it is ready to be pulled. Pick turnips when they are smaller for a milder, sweeter flavor.

How long does it take turnips to mature after planting?

six to ten weeksTurnips are quick and easy to grow from seed, ready to harvest in as little as six to ten weeks. They like cool, moisture-retentive soil, in an open, sunny location.

How do you grow a big turnip?

0:163:37How to Grow Lots of Turnips from Seed to Harvest - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipGrowing into the soil you can also use berms to grow Turnus by healing up the soil I prefer to growMoreGrowing into the soil you can also use berms to grow Turnus by healing up the soil I prefer to grow my turnips in raised beds with lots of compost.

How long can you leave turnips in the ground?

They do rot after one week, so if you lose track of them after putting them in the ground, those Bells will be wasted and your storage efforts will be for nothing. Like we suggested to do inside the house, you may as well design parts of your island around turnips if you plan on keeping a lot of them.

What month do you plant turnips?

Set out turnip green plants 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost in spring and from late August to October for a fall crop in most areas.

Are turnip leaves edible?

Turnip greens are part of the cruciferous vegetable family, as are kale and broccoli. They are high in nutrients and low in calories. Both the root and the leaves of the turnip are edible, but turnip greens refer specifically to the stem and leafy green part of the plant.

Can you eat turnips raw?

Raw or cooked, turnips are incredibly versatile: Boil or steam turnips and add them to mashed potatoes for extra vitamins and minerals. Grate them raw into salads or slaws. Roast them with other root vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes, and bring out their natural sweetness.

How do you pick a turnip?

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. Cut the outer leaves an inch or so above the crown and the leaves will grow back quickly.

What kind of fertilizer do turnips need?

Turnip gives a good response to organic fertilizers such as compost tea, blood and bone meal, and fish emulsion. If growing for greens, high nitrogen fertilizer will help produce deep, healthy green. A fertilizer that has high potassium will be better for the roots of the Turnip.

What month do you plant turnips?

Set out turnip green plants 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost in spring and from late August to October for a fall crop in most areas.

Why are my turnips not growing?

Too Much Nitrogen: Soil too rich in nitrogen tends to give turnips with an abundance of foliage, but an underdeveloped root. This could have happened if you applied a very nitrogen-rich fertilizer or a heavy application of fresh manure or compost.

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.

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.

When to Plant Turnips

For a late spring harvest, sow turnip seeds about 2 to 3 weeks before the average last spring frost date.

Preparing the Site

The key to growing big turnips is loose soil. 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 to Plant Turnips

Before planting, mix in a nice low organic fertilizer (such as a 5-5-5) about 12 inches into the soil.

How to Grow Turnips

Once seedlings are 4 inches high, thin them to 4 to 6 inches apart. Crowding can result in small or malformed roots. If you grow them any closer than 4 inches, they’re not going to grow.

Avoid Bolting

Turnips are hardy biennials, even though we treat them as annuals. 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 to Harvest Turnips

Harvest greens when turnips are small; the leaves taste best when young and tender. Cut leaves 2 inches above the base; they may grow back. Harvest jut a few at a time if also growing for roots.

Turnip Varieties

Purple Top – This is the most common variety in home gardens. It’s simple to grow, and you can harvest it about 50 days after planting. If you pick the leaves young enough, they’re edible too. For maximum sweetness, harvest them when they’re 3-inches in diameter.

How to Care for Turnips

Water turnips regularly. If the roots are allowed to get too dry and then get a lot of moisture, they will crack and split. Lack of water also causes smaller, bitter, woody roots.

Common Problems and Solutions for Growing Turnips

Growing turnips is generally a fuss-free proposition, but sometimes problems can occur. Here are a few things to keep an eye on.

Companion Plants for Turnips

Some people say that you can plant turnips next to anything. I have found the best ones are:

How to Harvest Turnips

If you leave growing turnips long enough, they’ll bolt to seed, which can be a good thing if you want to save a few for next year. Choose a couple of plants to leave in the ground. Let them flower in the spring and allow the seed pods to turn brown.

How to Grow Turnips

If you are planting a summer crop, plant the turnips early. If you are planting so you can have turnips to store throughout the winter, plant late in the summer to harvest turnips before first frost.

Harvesting Turnips

Come summertime, about 45 to 50 days after planting, you can pull a turnip up and see if it’s ready for harvest. Start harvesting turnips once you find a mature turnip.

Soil Conditions

Both swedes and turnips like to be planted in the same type of soil conditions. Well-drained but not dry, they need only moderate amounts of fertilizer to grow well.

Sowing

The plot where you will grow your turnips and swedes should be in well-drained soil dug down to a depth of 8 to 10 inches and be free of grass clods and weeds.

How long do turnips take to grow?

Depending on the climate and temperature it takes turnips around 60 days to grow. You can pull them from the ground after 30 days but they will be very small – 1″ to 2″ in diameter. A turnip is better left in the ground for at least 60 days, as it will allow for more flavour to develop in the root and prevents it from tasting too watery or bland.

Weeds in turnips

If you can get your hands on a pre-emergence weed spray (herbicide) it would be a really good idea to spray this on 1 to 2 days after sowing.

Boron Deficiency

Swedes and Turnips are both susceptible to boron deficiency. This causes dark brown strings that run through the flesh which leaves it unmarketable.

Pests

A young newly developing turnip or swede has very appealing leaves to rabbits. They are sweet and juicy, so it is usually a good idea to sow your turnips and swedes away from potential danger areas. Hedges and ditches are where rabbits have burrows, so try to avoid these areas.

Garlic Spray

Another way of dealing with rabbits is to spray garlic extract over the turnips or swede sown area.

2. Plant turnips at the right time

For a continuous harvest, plant turnips every week or 10 days throughout the growing season.

3. Plant turnips from seed

Turnips do not transplant well; start seeds directly in the garden. Plant seeds 1 inch apart and ¼ – ½ inch deep. Turnip seeds germinate quickly. Thin seedlings to 3-4 inches apart (depending on the variety) when they are 2-3 inches tall.

4. Harvest turnips when young for best flavor

Harvest bulbs 45-50 days after planting when small and flavorful, and before the weather gets hot. Begin harvesting when bulbs are about 2 inches wide or about the size of a radish.

5. Enjoy turnips a variety of ways

The tender young leaves are delicious fresh or cooked and are a good spinach substitute. Use the roots fresh, roasted, sautéed, or added to soup. Turnips can be substituted for potatoes with delicious results.

When to Harvest Turnips

There are different methods for harvesting and storing turnips. Some are pulled and bunched together with the leaves and stems intact. 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.

When are Turnips Ready for Picking?

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. However, they do seem to have a sweeter flavor when exposed to mild frost.

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.

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.