In praise of the humble turnip

[mrbadexample]

Turnip (Arcoat)

I ate these three tonight, other than rhubarb & radishes, my first harvest this year:



Two months from sowing to eating. And they were ace.

[jojo2910]

We had our first turnips this week too and thoroughly agree they were delish. The chickens had the leaves and seemed to agree.

[chris]

They look great!

Try some raw grated on a salad, when they're small - they do have a bit of a bite

[bronwen]

Yum, those turnips look great MrBE!
Literally two days ago I had a mad urge to get some turnip seeds to try my luck (when looking at the 50% off thompson and morgan seeds). As before the other day, for some reason I had it in my mind that turnips took ages to grow!
Thanks for sharing your lovely photo

[mrbadexample]

As before the other day, for some reason I had it in my mind that turnips took ages to grow!

I have learned that there are two types of turnip. Summer (like these), and winter, which are the yellow-fleshed ones. They do take much longer to grow. I sowed some Golden Ball at the same time as these, which are just approaching marble sized.

[mrbadexample]

They look great!

Try some raw grated on a salad, when they're small - they do have a bit of a bite

I was munching on raw bits while I was cooking. When I've grown these before, I've left them too long, waiting for them to get quite big. I think that was a mistake. I didn't need to peel these, and they were sweet, crisp and white. Left for longer they get a bit tougher, and it also gives pests more chance to nibble them. So lots of small ones is better than big ones.

[Alison]

I have learned that there are two types of turnip. Summer (like these), and winter, which are the yellow-fleshed ones. They do take much longer to grow. I sowed some Golden Ball at the same time as these, which are just approaching marble sized.

The winter ones are swede and do take a lot longer but are quite hardy and I was still eating the ones I sowed last May this April as they stood nicely in the ground. I like turnips but don't grow many as there are so many other veggies over the summer but it is nice how quick they mature.

[mrbadexample]

The winter ones are swede

Not necessarily. The Golden Ball turnips aren't swede; they are winter turnips. I can grow the turnips, but struggle with swede, which I don't really understand!

[snohare]

I can grow the turnips, but struggle with swede, which I don't really understand!

Ah, it all becomes clear. You don't understand Swedish ! (Which wouldn't be surprising, it is full of phonemes that English does not have, so you literally don't "hear" bits of it unless exposed at an early age.)

Personally, I don't like swedes, I only like turnips, just because of all the childhood associations with making neep lanterns for Halloween, turnip soup on cold winter days, neep brose as a treat...I'm amazed to find that this year I have neglected to buy any seed. I did really like the ones I grew last year, but they had a lot of pest damage, I didn't have proper netting.