How to Grow Turnips and Rutabagas

Our Cro-Magnon ancestors apparently foraged these plants
from the wild, but by 3500 B.C … Sumerians in the valley
of the Euphrates were cultivating the vegetable. In later,
centuries; Greeks and Romans turned turnip cooking into a
culinary art form, and forums were held to discuss the best
ways to prepare the vegetable. Some epicures liked diem
pickled; others preserved the roots in myrtle berries,
honey and vinegar. One Roman method involved steaming
turnips successively with cumin, rue and benzoin (a
fragrant, balsamic resin). After being cooked for several
hours, the vegetable was then mashed and simmered in honey,
vinegar, gravy, boiled grapes and a little oil. Ancients
might have considered this complicated dish delicious, but
I see no reason to disguise the deliciously pungent taste
of turnips. In fact, a favorite Saturday night supper of my
south Georgia childhood consisted of cornbread crumbled
into “potlikker”–in this case, the leftover liquid from
cooking turnip greens. To me, it’s worth putting in a
turnip patch just to enjoy this down-home dish whenever I
like, though turnips (Brassica rapa) and rutabagas
(Brassica napobrassica) reward a grower in other
ways.

First of all, they’re very nutritious. A serving of turnip
tops steamed in a little water, while containing only 20
calories, gives you 184 milligrams of calcium and 6,300
units of vitamin A, along with significant amounts of
phosphorus, iron, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin, as well
as 69 milligrams of vitamin C. (The only vegetable
containing more vitamin C is parsley.) Rutabaga greens, at
35 calories a serving, offer a little less of most of these
nutrients, but add 167 milligrams of potassium. Eaten
raw–and the tender leaves of both these vegetables are a
tasty addition to salads–they are even better for you. The
roots, while not quite as nutritious, still have the same
vitamin content as potatoes and are richer in vitamin C.

Best of all, turnips and rutabagas are easy to grow and
store and are relatively pest-free. Much of the crop’s
success depends on timing.

What Varieties of Turnips and Rutabagas to Plant

Like those other brassicas, cabbages and Brussels sprouts,
turnips and rutabagas are cool-weather crops. The rutabaga
is actually a horticultural cross between a turnip and a
cabbage; it was created by Swiss botanist Gaspard Bauhin in
the seventeenth century, though it didn’t arrive in this
country until 1806. Rutabagas are commonly called fall or
Swedish turnips or simply Swedes. (Because of their liking
for cool, glacial soil, they’re widely grown and eaten in
Sweden and other northern countries.) Additionally,
rutabagas can tolerate frost better than turnips, and the
roots can be stored for up to a year.

Whether you’re growing turnips or rutabagas, these
underground brassicas should be planted about three weeks
before the last frost date in early spring or, for a
(usually better) fall crop, in midsummer. They also are a
winter crop in the warmer sections of the South.

The main thing to keep in mind is that these vegetables
require temperatures of between 50 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 degrees Fahrenheit to
mature, so select a variety with growing needs that
correspond to your local climate. (The soil must be at
least 40 degrees Fahrenheit for seed germination, which generally takes
from seven to 14 days.) Hot weather will turn the leaves
rank and make the roots woody and bitter.

The most popular turnip is the fine-tasting, fine-storing
Purple Top White Globe, which matures in 55 to 58 days and
is best for a fall crop. The Japanese, however, have come
up with several varieties that mature much faster. For
example, the hybrid Just Right (40 days) is remarkable for
its tender greens and roots, while the two-inch root of
virus resistant Tokyo Cross is ready to eat in only 35
days. Shogoin (30 days), another Japanese offering, is
cultivated primarily for its thick, delicious foliage, and
if you can nurture your crop for 70 days, its roots are
tasty, too. Some turnips, such as Seven Top, are grown only
for their greens. Turnip roots can be white or yellow, and,
though turnips are classified according to the shape of
their roots–flat, round or cylindrical–shape doesn’t make a
great deal of difference in their taste. Their tops come in
shades of green, red, purple and gold. Certain white
varieties with green tops have proved to be the hardiest.

Rutabagas generally take 90 days to mature. Macomber (80
days) and American Purple Top (88 to 90 days) are old
favorites.

Turnips and rutabagas are fairly tough crops that can be
grown in almost any type of soil, but they thrive best in
loose, organically rich, stone-free, water-retentive but
well-drained earth that’s been worked deeply. The pH should
be between 6.5 and 7.0. Phosphorus (try ground rock
phosphate and granite dust) encourages root development.
Too much nitrogen will produce thick leaves but puny roots,
so don’t fertilize with unrotted manure.

Because turnips and Swedes are such light feeders, they can
be rotated with heavy feeders like corn or squash. But
don’t plant your crop near mustard greens, which will
inhibit its growth, or near other brassica cousins such as
broccoli or cabbage, since all family members are
susceptible to the same diseases. Turnips and rutabagas
can, however, tolerate partial shade, so some people like
to grow them between climbing peas. Any type of pea is a
good companion plant to these crops.

Neither of these root crops transplants well, so sow your
seeds where you intend to grow them. (One seed packet will
plant a 50 foot row and will produce 25 pounds of leaves and
50 pounds of roots; the germination rate is over 70%, and
the seed will store from two to five years and can be
sprouted.) Sow your spring crop 1/4 inch deep; plant fall
crops 1/2 inch deep two months (three months for rutabagas)
before the first expected frost. Seeds may be broadcast and
later thinned to three or four inches apart, or they can be
planted in rows 18 or more inches apart. Give rutabaga
plants six inches in which to grow. (Use the tender
thinnings in salads.)

Keep down weeds and aerate the soil with hoeing and
hand-cultivating, and never, at any stage, allow the bed to
dry out. You want to keep these vegetables growing fast and
continuously, and water is the secret. Constant moisture
will produce a good, well-flavored, tender crop, while lack
of moisture will make the roots fibrous and strong-tasting
and will force the plant to send up a seed stalk. When the
leaves are about five inches long, you can mulch the plants
to keep weeds down and moisture in.

What Turnips and Rutabaga Problems and Pests to Watch For

You’d expect turnips to be susceptible to all the pests and
diseases that attack other brassicas. Theoretically, they
are, but scientists have found that the turnip plant has an
insecticidal chemical compound in its system that helps
ward of such insects as aphids, spider mites, houseflies
and beetles. Therefore, root maggots are the most likely
cause of problems. They can be discouraged by scattering
wood ashes liberally around your plants. Should aphids or
flea beetles attack, use hard hose sprays, sticky traps,
garlic sprays, diatomaceous earth, wood ashes or ladybugs
(for aphids) to get rid of them.

The main disease to watch for is black rot, which turns
leaves black and foul-smelling. The only way to prevent
this bacterial menace is with strict crop rotation.
Specifically, don’t put your turnip or rutabaga patch where
it or any other cole crop has grown within the last five
years, and immediately remove and destroy any diseased
plants to keep this plague from spreading.

How to Harvest and Store Turnips and Rutabagas

Greens can be harvested as soon as they’re large enough to
pick, but don’t pluck any one plant too heavily or you’ll
kill the root. Turnips should be pulled when the roots are
from one to three inches in diameter. (Usually, the smaller
they are, the tenderer they’ll be. Very young ones make a
fine substitute for radishes and can be carved into
decorative garnishes.) To harvest the roots, use a spading
fork to loosen the soil around the base of the leaves, grab
the tops, and pull gently.

Rutabaga roots are much larger-and sweeter-than turnips,
but they should not be allowed to grow so big that they
become woody, otherwise they’re more fit for cattle than
human consumption. However, because of their hardiness,
many people leave rutabagas in the ground during the
winter, rather than storing them, to be dug as needed.

Turnips are not as long-lasting as rutabagas, but in
mild-winter areas, they can be mulched and left in the
garden for an extended harvest. With both crops, though,
it’s often better to pull up the roots, twist of the tops
(but not too closely; leave about 1/2 inch of stems) and
store them in layers in boxes of moist sand, sawdust or
peat, or in heaps or ridges covered with a layer of soil
and straw. Some people cover the roots in wax to prevent
dehydration and store them in an area just above freezing.
Others simply place them in any cool (32 degrees Fahrenheit to 40 degrees Fahrenheit),
damp, dark place such as a basement or root cellar. Just
make sure you don’t store any that are bruised, cut or
diseased.

If an early hot spell hits your spring crop, taste-test the
roots daily and harvest the entire crop at the first sign
of deterioration. Refrigerated, the greens will keep for up
to a week or can be frozen for future use. Store the roots
as mentioned above in a cool, moist place.

Freezing, which preserves the most nutrition, is the best
way to store turnip and rutabaga tops. Wash young, tender
green leaves in several changes of water, removing tough
stems or bruised leaves. Blanch each pound in two gallons
of boiling water for two minutes, stirring to keep the
greens from sticking together. Cool, drain well, and pack
into containers, leaving 1/4 inch of head space. Seal,
label, and freeze. When ready for use, cook for eight to 15
minutes.

The roots, while they don’t can well, can also be frozen. I
find it easier just to store them in my cellar, but I do
like to add a diced root or two for flavor and texture in
each package of frozen greens.

Old-Fashioned Turnip Greens Recipe

1 onion, chopped

3 strips bacon, cut into 2 inch pieces
1 small clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Dash of vinegar

3 cups tightly packed chopped turnip greens

1 or 2 eggs, hard-boiled

Fill a large saucepan half-full of water and add onion,
bacon, garlic, salt, pepper and vinegar. Bring to a boil
for 1 minute. Add turnip greens.and cook until tender.
Drain (save the liquid), and top with sliced-egg garnish.
Serves 4 to 6. (For your next meal, reheat the cooking
liquid–called pot liquor in the South–pour into individual
bowls, add small chunks of cornbread, and enjoy!)

Rutabaga Casserole Recipe

3 pounds rutabagas, peeled and diced

2 teaspoons brown sugar (divided)

1/2 teaspoon dill seed

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons margarine or butter

1/3 cup sour cream

Place rutabagas, 1 teaspoon sugar, dill seed and salt in about 1 inch
of boiling water, and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
Drain, mash, and stir in remaining sugar, salt, margarine
and sour cream. Turn into a 1 1/2 -quart oiled casserole
dish, cover, and bake in 350 degrees Fahrenheit oven for 30 minutes or
until tender. Uncover and place under broiler to brown.
Serves 6.

Susan Says

HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS from MOTHER’S gardener, Susan
Sides: It’s not really all that hard to locate the turnip
listings in any seed catalog. Let the book fall open to the
lavish tomato section, turn the page, and there they’ll
be–all two or three varieties.

Now, the flea beetle and cabbage maggot populations think,
of course, that we’ve gotten our priorities all wrong.
These discerning diners will take a turnip over a “love
apple” any day. And if you’re cultivating your own crop of
Purple Tops in the spring (when the little pests are most
active), they’ll think you’re so very kind to go through
all that trouble just for them.

To avoid the worst of the damage, you could plant only in
autumn. (Another plus for fall planting is that the
vegetables are not nearly as likely to develop a bitter,
woody taste as a result of maturing in warm weather.) But
some of us become addicted to those spring greens and
potlikker, and–lucky for us–there’s more than
one way to skin a flea beetle.

One solution is to try sowing seeds three or four weeks
before the first fall frost date. Mulch the half-grown
plants just before frost does arrive to hold them over the
winter for an advanced spring start. (An additional layer
or two of spunbond row cover helps in the coldest regions.)
Another angle is to plant seeds as soon as the ground can
be worked in late winter. (Prepare this area ahead of time
in the fall.) Cover with a cloche or cold frame until the
nights slip above freezing. A third method for dedicated
turnip fans is to start seeds indoors in individual pots
eight weeks before the last spring frost date. Transplant
to the garden after plants have four or five weeks of
growth under their belts.

All three of these suggestions will help you mature an
extra-early crop. Then, while sleeping insects only dream
of turnips yet to come, you’ll be harvesting them by the
armload.