Swedes........

[Gillykat]

Growing up on Tyneside I never heard of swedes - everything was a Turnip. But since moving north to Alnwick in 2004 I've 'discovered' swedes. Though to be honest I actually thought they were the same thing I thought it was just the snobby Alnwick incomers not wanting to call something as common sounding as turnip

I've tried both (shop bought) and like them equally and plan to attempt to grow some this year.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Also, over here in sunny Spain, both swedes and turnips are labelled as "nabos" (turnips) The pictures on the front depict the difference.

neeps here although turnips are quite a novelty

[Snadger]

neeps here although turnips are quite a novelty

You'll be out with the gun trying to bag yesell a haggis to go with your neeps next Monday AP.

[Ananke]

All the seed packets I've bought over the years say to sow in May, this has never worked for me. I started sowing them in March, in trays and get great crops.

I've had problems, in the past, with Brown Heart, where the middle of the turnip/swede/neep turns brown due to a Boron deficiency, which can be brought on by soil acidity being too high.

The check list for me is - Sow early, lime the soil (if it needs it), regular feeding and don't let the soil dry out and the reward is huge tasty roots. I love them and use them in so many dishes.

[Aberdeenplotter]

You'll be out with the gun trying to bag yesell a haggis to go with your neeps next Monday AP.

Apologies Snadge, didn't see you're post at th time. Yes 25th January is the glory day for the humble swede and we enjoyed our Haggis yesterday evening. Wild haggis are getting pretty scarce so we had a farmed one this time. Still fine but doesn't have the same gamey taste.