I have pretty much given up on turnips so would appreciate help.
I can grow them OK but... does anyone know a variety that they guarantee does not have the bite of a radish!!
Every time I grow them I find them too hot.
XX Jeannine
Hi
I find when I move turnips around the allotment they tend to grow better at the rear where there is some shade. I tend to harvest when they are just around the size of a grapefruit. if you leave them in the ground longer they do get a strong taste and tend to go hard and stringy. I never add manure to my root crops simply because they do not like it. good look PS: grow swede the same way :sunny:
Jeanine, you might like trying Gilfeather turnips. John_Miller introduced me to them. They taste more like cauliflower to me when steamed and are very mild and delicious. He said they are actually a yellow rutabaga. His grew huge; mine didn't because my soil isn't good yet. Seed can be ordered from here: http://www.fedcoseeds.com/seeds/search.php?item=2392&
Hi, I have the Gilfeather seeds but I also view those more of a rutabaga though and they take a long time to mature, it is the quick to harvest white proper turnips I want to grow as they are ready much quicker.
How did you find you Gilfeathers kept by the way.
XX Jeannine
We ate them promptly!
I've never really noticed the roots being hot (or can't remember!), but I do tend to eat them quite young, perhaps they have not had a chance to hot up? The two varieties I've grown are Purple Top Milan and Snowball, both very good. They are just not my favourite veg so they don't get sown every year. But growing them does remind me of my Gran, as she loved baby turnips with a dab of salted Welsh butter. I've ordered Black Sugar Sweet turnip to try next year, they might be good?
Maybe it is just me, I have tried both of those and find they have too much of a bite for me and I do pick them when small. I have a packet of Japanese Hakurei supposed to be mild and sweet but I have yet to grow them, I also have Sweet Bell from T & M and Nabica from HSL plus a Real Seed one called Giant Limousin. Does anyone know any of these?
XX Jeannine