How to Grow Turnips

Turnips were once a staple diet for many early pioneer families. These tough overwintering plants are easy to grow and store and have become a soul food staple. Here's how to grow them for a winter crop.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Turnip seeds
• Garden sand
• Garden soil
• Mulch or landscaping cloth

1. Choose your turnip seeds. While most turnips have white flesh, yellow-fleshed varieties are available. Look in home and garden stores and the garden sections of discount department stores. Buy purple top white globe turnips for a medium-sized turnip.

2. Make a turnip bed. Turnips, like most root vegetables, need space for the roots to bulb out. Add at least 8 inches of soil and some sand to the turnip bed because it helps the turnips to grow better.

3. Plant the turnip seeds. Sow the seeds at least 6 inches apart in one-half inch of soil. If you plant turnips in rows, leave at least 12 inches between each row.

4. Keep the turnip bed weed-free. Use mulch, newspapers or landscaping cloth between rows. Avoid deep cultivation to prevent damage to the shallow turnip roots.

5. Harvest the turnips when they are tennis ball size, no more than 4 to 5 inches. Larger turnips become woody and unpalatable.

6. Store the turnips in a cool place. Cut any green tops from the turnip and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Harvest turnip greens for a tasty addition to a garden salad, or cook the greens and turnps with bacon grease, onions and salt for a soul food treat. Turnip greens can be harvested anytime during the growing season.

• For long winter storage, place the turnips in a box. Cover them with clean garden soil and sand. Keep them dry.

• Avoid adding excessive organic material and fertilizer, which can make the root vegetables hairy and unsightly.