hows these turnips look so far?

this one was half out of the ground on the end of the row. I wonder if they are going to get much bigger

I need to know what you use in your garden - I've been trying for years and have never successfully grown a can of beer. LOL But I have raised a few in the garden - he he.

Nice turnup.

gardening and beer go hand in hand! I was just out there a few minutes ago and found an empty can.... but no full ones :)

What variety is that turnip? Are the green tops as prolific as the roots? And how far apart did you end up spacing them? Thx. Linda

I got these at walmart to try something new also. I made the mistake seeding them to close together, thats why I think its so flat. The Greens are amazing, but blocking sun on each other now. The row I planted has like 2 layers cause its so thick. I'll post another giant, once I dig it out, I seen a few days ago. It might be twice this ones weight.

Is the top purple.. looks like the swede I grow.. anyway - when they get around 1/2 way out of the ground it is a good time to start pulling, freezing, and making soup. as they get larger they split easy in the ground like a tomato. around here buggs, rot, and worms start finding their way in after that. However it may have a lot to to with the on - off dry and rain we get.. either way they are good to go when the bottoms are softball size and start to get woody after that. like leaving a carrot in too long.

I prefer planting mikes hard lemonade alongside them myself....... no mike's trees but will keep on trying.

-joe-

Thanks Cleff and JJ!

yes, very purple at the top. I'll try and show the next one's color I dig out.

probably purple top turnips.. fantastic in a chicken broth soup with carrots, onions, and whatever else is ripe. People do eat the tops... not me - I prefer kale in the soup....

purple top turnip is very common. I grow them year round - even under the snow... baseball to softball size tastes best. smaller - less flavor. larger they get woody and sometimes split.

I planted my very first crop too close together and too shallow. My roots were approximately 2-3" dia., and most of the roots were laying on top of the soil. Have expanded both root beds and will make adjustments this planting season.

Will sow seeds starting 2nd weekend in Sept., and every 3 weeks thereafter, up to Dec. 1st. I love turnip greens.

Have secured Sluggo Plus to kill the pillbugs and snails that like to munch on MY turnip leaves.

Linda

Glad to see all this info on turnips. I have some questions: How do you harvest turnip greens? We are growing "Seven Tops" in our food bank garden. Primarily for the greens, not the turnips. Do you just harvest them leaf by leaf or by a bunch? Guess I need to go to the grocery store to see how they sell them. We planted ours 2 " a part as the seed chart said. They are growing great but in about a week or two may be ready to harvest.

Also, any recipes out there?

Thanks, Ellen

I don't eat the greens myself, I just go for the root, but next year when the greens look so so so good, I'm try and harvest some!

Simple way to cook them is to chop them up with some onion and a little green pepper. Heat your pan to Med/Med High, and put in a small ammount of oil, I use Olive oil myself. A little butter and salt... bling!

Just pinch the greens off about an inch above the ground. They will put right back out. I start picking greens when they get about three inchs high. Have you ever tried mustard? I actually like the taste of mustard greens better than turnip. I also plant rutabagas. The greens off them are good and green rutabagas are a lot milder and better tasting than the dry, waxed ones in the store.

grrrrr. I dug out about 3/4 of my turnips yesterday and founds slugs living in the areas where they are close together.... I don't see any damage to the roots but they might not taist the same the first few times I eat them knowing they had slugs and dung on them :/

You learn to ignore the slugs are you won't be eating much out of the garden. A good washing will solve your problem. Get some tuna cans and pour them full of that beer you like and set them around in the turnips. They like beer better than turnips.

Jim41, great idea :)

Cleff, beer doesn't even have to be fresh. They'll come to it even if it is flat. Got a swallow or two left in a can, save it.

Just put this in the slow cooker.... lets see how these turnips taist now!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pirate-Stew/Detail.aspx

I envy you your turnips. I guess I got mine to thick and they aren't making good roots. Got some knock out rutabaga's though.

My purple top turnips never get more than 3" wide (if I am lucky) and some worm always attacks the root and sometimes my radish roots too. Going to try some diatomaceous earth to combat whatever is attacking the roots.

I planted mine WAY to close together also... I got some monsters, but had a bunch only the size of a golf ball.... I know next year to spread them out a bit better. PS, the stew was awesome!

How late in the season do you plant turnips. We just planted seven tops this weekend. Fortunately the temps are low so hopefully they will germinate.