Turnip the volume, let’s learn about root vegetables! The key with all root vegetables is moisture and nutrition. In terms of nutrition, your job is not to be excessive; that will translate to excessive foliage growth at expensive of the root. Prepare your patch with a lightly composted soil and consider an application of potash mid way to help root development. In terms of moisture, keeping it even and consistent will develop healthy roots. This will be largely reliant on what is thrown at us from above, but the ability of your soil to drain will help regulate that. Do your best to prepare a friable, free draining patch.
PLANTING
Root vegetables suffer badly from transplant shock, that is why they should be grown from seed in their forever home. Soak the seeds before planting and water in with some eco-seaweed. Plant at 10cm intervals to allow plenty of space for root development and thin out when they develop as necessary.
WATERING
In ground: Water daily for the first 4 weeks and 3-4 times a week in the absence of rainfall thereafter. More frequent watering may be required during the warmer times of the year.
In Pots: Water daily while establishing and for the entirety of the warm season, otherwise every second day – after they are 4 weeks old – if growing during the cooler times of the year.
MAINTENANCE
Thin out seedlings if you went heavy handed planting your seeds this will allow enough room for your turnip to fully develop and not have to compete for nutrition with other turnip plants. Do this at about the one month mark.
Mulch using pea straw, lucerne hay or sugar cane a depth of 3–5cm.
Feed with a seaweed fertiliser every two weeks.
In 12 weeks your roots may be ready to harvest. Make sure you brace plants nearby that will remain in the ground for further growth. Roots keep well in-ground, particularly when the soil temperature is cool, so only harvest as required.
HARVESTING
Time until first harvest: Some leaves can be picked at about 8 weeks. Harvest roots between 10-12 weeks.
How to harvest: Grip at the base of foliage and gently pull from the ground while bracing nearby plants.
TIP
Grow closely together and harvest every second one early for small turnips and foliage to let the remaining plants mature to full size.
