Post by Fla Gal on Mar 30, 2009 3:27:05 GMT -5
It may be a little late for me to start turnips and rutabagas but I wouldn't have known it unless I saw two turnips in my fridge and a rutabaga at the grocery store sprouting greens. I had to check it out to find out the best growing season for them.
It's too late for a spring planting here but I should be able to plant them in the fall. I learned that rutabaga may or may not do well this far south. Never hurts to try.
From the University of Illinois Extension:
Turnips are easy to grow if sown in the proper season. They mature in two months and may be planted either in the spring, late summer or fall for roots or greens. The spring crop is planted for early summer use. The fall crop, which is usually larger and of higher quality, is often stored for winter use.
Because rutabagas require 4 weeks longer to mature than turnips, they are best grown as a fall crop. The leaves are smoother and the roots are rounder, larger and firmer than those of turnips. Rutabaga is most commonly grown in the northern tier of states and Canada but should perform fairly well anywhere there is a fairly long cool period in the autumn or early winter.
urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/turnip1.html
I also learned turnips are a good alternative livestock fodder.
Turnip (Brassica rapa L.) is a root Brassica crop and has been used as a vegetable for human consumption in Europe since prehistoric times. Turnip root has been a popular livestock fodder for at least 600 years wherever the crop can be grown.
www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/turnip.html
It's too late for a spring planting here but I should be able to plant them in the fall. I learned that rutabaga may or may not do well this far south. Never hurts to try.
From the University of Illinois Extension:
Turnips are easy to grow if sown in the proper season. They mature in two months and may be planted either in the spring, late summer or fall for roots or greens. The spring crop is planted for early summer use. The fall crop, which is usually larger and of higher quality, is often stored for winter use.
Because rutabagas require 4 weeks longer to mature than turnips, they are best grown as a fall crop. The leaves are smoother and the roots are rounder, larger and firmer than those of turnips. Rutabaga is most commonly grown in the northern tier of states and Canada but should perform fairly well anywhere there is a fairly long cool period in the autumn or early winter.
urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/turnip1.html
I also learned turnips are a good alternative livestock fodder.
Turnip (Brassica rapa L.) is a root Brassica crop and has been used as a vegetable for human consumption in Europe since prehistoric times. Turnip root has been a popular livestock fodder for at least 600 years wherever the crop can be grown.
www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/turnip.html