Content
Turnip is a valuable vegetable crop. It is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, high content of vitamins, minerals and other useful substances. The product is well absorbed by the body and is suitable for baby food. Root vegetables are stored for a long time and do not lose their beneficial properties. For planting, turnip varieties are selected that are adapted to the conditions of a particular region.
What family does turnip belong to?
Turnip is a member of the cruciferous family. The plant is grown as an annual or biennial. In the first year, the root crop and a rosette of leaves develop. The next season, a long stem with leaves and flowers appears. Close relatives of plants are: various types of cabbage, kohlrabi, radish, radish.
The root system is a fleshy root vegetable. A tall stem with numerous leaves grows above the surface of the ground.They are lyre-pinnate, green, naked or slightly pubescent.
Turnips are native to Western Asia. It was consumed as food back in the days of Ancient Egypt. In Rus', culture has become the most important food product. Today it is added to salads, boiled, and baked. The product improves appetite, stimulates intestinal function, and promotes food absorption.
Types and varieties of turnips
Turnip varieties are divided into several groups. The most common classification is by ripening time. This takes into account the period that passes from the emergence of seedlings to the complete harvest.
Types of turnips by ripening time:
- early – produces a harvest within a period of 40 – 60 days;
- mid-season – in 60 – 90 days;
- late – for a period of 90 days or more.
According to the shape of the root crop, the crop can be of the following types:
- round;
- flat;
- elongated.
Not only root vegetables are eaten, but also the above-ground part. For this purpose, special leaf varieties are chosen. Greens are harvested 5 - 7 weeks after the formation of seedlings on the surface of the earth. Young stems and leaves are added to salads and used as a seasoning for first and second courses.
According to the method of application, all varieties are divided into different types:
- canteens;
- feed
Table varieties of turnips are suitable for preparing a variety of dishes. They have a good taste and are rich in vitamins and nutrients. Fodder - called turnip. They are characterized by increased yield and large size, so they are used as animal feed.
The best varieties of turnips for the Moscow region for open ground
In the middle zone, two crops are obtained without problems. The first sowing is carried out in early May, the next - at the end of June.Early harvests are not stored for long; root crops are used for food. The second harvest is used for long-term storage. The turnip varieties listed below are also suitable for North-West Russia.
Geisha
Geisha is an early ripening variety. Its root crops are spherical in shape, have a smooth surface and are white in color. The minimum weight is 60 g, the largest grow up to 200 g. Their flesh is sweet, white, juicy, without coarse fibers.
Young leaves are used in cooking as greens, which contain minerals and vitamins. The variety grows well in the shade and is not susceptible to flowering and bacteriosis. The yield is up to 4 kg per 1 sq. m.
Petrovskaya-1
Petrovskaya-1 is a well-known variety included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 1950. Ripening occurs in the mid-early period. The seeds of the crop germinate well even after spring frosts. Productivity per 1 sq. m of beds is up to 3.2 kg.
The shape of the root crops is flat-round, weight - from 60 to 150 g. Their color is bright yellow. The pulp contains potassium salts, vitamins B and C, it is firm, juicy and tasty. The harvest is used fresh and also for cooking. Turnip Petrovskaya-1 is stored for a long time in a cool room.
Lyra
Lyra is an early ripening variety that produces a harvest in 2 months. It is suitable for cultivation by farms and garden plots. The variety is valued for its early ripening and good taste. Lyra is good for long-term storage throughout the winter.
The shape of the root crops is spherical. The average weight is 80 g, but there are specimens weighing up to 100 g. The pulp of the root vegetables is tender, hard, white, and contains a lot of juice. Productivity per 1 sq. m of landing is 3.4 kg.
Dedka
Dedka is an early variety of turnip.The harvest is ready for harvest 45 days after the seedlings appear above the ground. Root crops ripen together. The Dedka variety has a round shape. The color of root vegetables is two-color: purple in the upper part and white in the lower part. The bark is smooth, shiny, thin.
The yield of the Dedka variety is up to 4 kg per square meter. Purpose - universal: for fresh consumption, stewing, pickling. Juicy and tasty fresh root vegetables are rich in minerals and vitamins.
Snow White
Turnips of the Snow White variety ripen in medium terms. The leaves of the crop grow in a vertical rosette. The root vegetables are white, round and weigh about 250 g. Inside they are tender, juicy, with white flesh, good taste, no bitterness and a slight aftertaste of turnip.
The Snow White variety brings a high yield. In 1 sq. m of beds, up to 4.5 kg of root crops are harvested. Snow White is valued for its presentation, productivity and long shelf life.
Nurse
Mid-season variety, ripening in 80 - 90 days. The plant forms a semi-vertical rosette of leaves. Its roots are round, short, with a concave base and head. The skin color is yellow. The leaves are green, their apex is slightly curved.
The weight of the Kormilitsa variety is 200 - 250 kg. The taste of root vegetables is assessed as good. Their flesh is not rough, yellow in color, very juicy. The purpose of the variety is universal: suitable for preparing fresh salads, baking, stuffing. Productivity is up to 4.2 kg/m2.
Snowball
Hybrid Snow Globe is a mid-season representative of the crop and one of the best turnip varieties for central Russia. Ripening takes less than 3 months.Root vegetables with smooth skin, white, spherical. The weight of each vegetable reaches 300 g, the snow-white pulp is the reason for its name. Vegetables have a good islandy taste.
The variety is not susceptible to flowering. The crop harvest is leveled and has a marketable appearance. Vegetables are consumed fresh and after heat treatment; they are well suited for organizing therapeutic nutrition and diet.
Russian size
Hybrid Russian Size is a record holder among other varieties, which is reflected in its name. This is a variety of large turnip with fleshy roots. The vegetable pulp is juicy, crispy, with a traditional taste. It is characterized by a wealth of vitamins and other useful substances.
The Russian Size variety has an excellent taste boiled, fried and fresh. The weight of one vegetable reaches 2 kg. The harvest can be transported and stored all winter without any problems.
Orbit
The Orbita variety gives harvest at a late date. Ripening takes about 4 months from the moment the sprouts appear. The leaf plate of the vegetable is dark green, slightly curved, round in shape, white, very large. The average weight is 450 g. Inside, the root vegetable is dense, but contains a lot of juice. Tolerates long-term storage well.
Orbita is valued for its different ripening, presentation and wonderful taste. Plants can withstand even prolonged cold spells. The yield is about 3 kg per square meter.
Sapphire
Sapphire is a leafy variety whose greens are ready to eat 30 days after germination. Its leaves are petiolate and grow in an erect, medium-sized rosette. Young shoots are used for canning, preparing salads, snacks and seasonings.
From 1 sq. m of planting, up to 3.5 g of fresh leaves are removed. The weight of each plant does not exceed 20 g.The leaf blade is round-oval, blue-green in color, slightly wrinkled. There is no waxy coating or pubescence on it.
The best turnip varieties for Siberia
In Siberia, turnips are planted in early to mid-May, when the soil warms up. This will allow you to get an early harvest that will ripen by the end of July. Turnips intended for winter storage are planted in the first or second decade of June. For growing in Siberia, it is best to choose medium-ripening varieties. Late hybrids do not always have time to form a harvest in harsh climatic conditions.
Merchant's wife
The Kupchikha variety ripens in the mid-early period. After the seedlings have germinated, the vegetables are ready for consumption after 55 days. The plants are of medium height, with dark green, slightly curved and wavy-edged leaves that form in an erect rosette.
Vegetables are flattened, two-colored. Above the surface of the earth, the skin has a red-violet color. The part of the root crop that is located in the soil is white. The mass of turnips is 220 - 240 g. Its taste is good, a little spicy. Productivity of the Kupchikha variety per 1 sq. m reaches 9.8 kg.
May yellow
May yellow turnip is valued for its early ripening. Vegetables are flat-shaped, white, green near the head. The growing season of the plant does not exceed 70 days. The harvest ripens in July.
The pulp of the Mayskaya variety is light yellow, juicy, and pleasant to the taste. The size of the root crops reaches 12 cm. The harvest ripens smoothly and is suitable for children's diets and diets. Turnips are resistant to flowering and are suitable for long-term storage.
Moon
Turnip Luna ripens in the mid-late period. About 70 days pass from seedling germination to harvesting.The variety is characterized by increased cold resistance. The root crops of the crop are yellow in color and spherical in shape. Their weight ranges from 150 to 250 g. The peel of the vegetables is thin and smooth, the pulp is juicy, has a good taste, and is suitable for dietary nutrition.
The Luna variety is good to use fresh; it is also suitable for culinary processing. Productivity. The plant is valued for its stable yield (which is about 2.5 kg per 1 sq. m) and uniformity of root crops.
Granddaughter
Turnip Granddaughter is another representative of early ripening varieties. After the formation of seedlings, 50 days pass before harvesting. The leaves are collected in a rosette 30 - 35 cm high. They are dark green, with a curved top, slightly wavy at the edges.
The root crops of the Vnuchka variety are obovate in shape. The color of the upper part of the turnip, which is above the ground, is purple. Its lower part is white. The pulp of the vegetable is juicy, with a delicate pleasant taste. Weight - exceeds 150 g, the largest specimens reach 300 g. Productivity is high, up to 4 kg per square meter.
Burnt sugar
Turnip Burnt sugar is an original hybrid. It is distinguished by the unusual shape of its root vegetables, which also have good taste, early ripening and medicinal properties. Vegetables are aligned, cylindrical in shape, without branches. Their skin is black and the inside is white.
Root vegetables weighing about 0.3 kg have compacted, crispy, juice-rich pulp. The harvest does not crack and can be stored in a cool place without problems. At the same time, vegetables do not lose their taste and commercial properties.
Using the photo, you can evaluate what Burnt Sugar turnips look like:
Early purple
The Early Purple variety ripens in 60 days. The spherical root vegetables are pink-crimson on top and white on the bottom. The weight of vegetables ranges from 80 to 100 g, their flesh is white, juicy, compacted. It contains many minerals: potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus.
Early purple turnip is valued for its smooth ripening, uniform yield, and excellent taste. The purpose of the variety is universal: preparing salads, side dishes, and hot dishes. Vegetables are also suitable for feeding children, diabetics and people suffering from excess weight.
Tokyo
Tokyo turnip is an unusual variety whose fresh leaves are eaten. They are harvested 25 days after germination. The plant forms a rosette with elongated, rounded leaves. They are dark green in color, juicy, with a delicate, pleasant taste.
Tokyo turnip leaf is rich in ascorbic acid and vitamins. The plant is resistant to cold weather. To obtain high-quality and tasty greens, it is important for the crop to provide constant watering.
The best turnip varieties for the Urals
Turnips tolerate the Ural climate well: frequent frosts and temperature fluctuations, heavy rainfall. For table use, choose early vegetables that quickly produce a harvest. If you need to prepare turnips for the winter, then the best option would be mid-ripening varieties. For planting in the Urals, the seeds of the best varieties of turnips for open ground are selected.
Comet
Comet turnip produces a harvest in the mid-late period: 75 days after the appearance of seedlings. Its leaves are green, slightly curved and wavy at the edges, growing in an erect rosette. Elongated root vegetables are purple in the upper part and white in the lower part. The weight of vegetables ranges from 150 to 250 g. Their tasting score is high.The harvest volume reaches 3.5 kg per 1 sq. m.
White Night
Turnip White Night is another representative of mid-season hybrids. It takes about 2 months from the formation of seedlings to the stage of technical maturity. The root crop is white, up to 12 cm in size, 2/3 immersed in the ground. The vegetables inside are juicy and tender in taste.
For summer consumption, turnips are planted from the end of April to the last days of May. If it is necessary to obtain vegetables for winter storage, then the work is carried out at the end of June. The variety gives a high yield - up to 8 kg per 1 sq. m.
Snow Maiden
Turnip variety Snegurochka ripens early. After the emergence of seedlings, 1.5 - 2 months pass before the vegetables are harvested. The rosette of leaves is slightly spreading. The root vegetables of the variety are spherical, white, with smooth skin. Their average weight is 65 g. The pulp of the vegetable is juicy, with a pleasant delicate taste.
In the conditions of the Urals, the yield of Snegurochka turnips reaches 4 kg per square meter of planting. The plant is valued for its shade tolerance, resistance to flowering, and quality of vegetables.
A chidhood dream
Turnip Children's Dream ripens in the mid-early period. Its root vegetables are yellow in color, spherical in shape, weighing from 150 to 200 g. The skin of the vegetable is smooth, thin, the taste is excellent, and the pulp is rich in vitamins and minerals.
The variety Children's Dream is valued for its marketable appearance, cold resistance, and rapid ripening. Vegetables are used fresh or cooked.
Russian fairy tale
The Russian Fairy Tale variety is ready for consumption in the mid-early period. After seed germination, vegetables ripen in 80 days. The harvest is formed simultaneously. Yellow, thin-skinned root vegetables are spherical in shape. Their pulp has a good taste.The average weight is about 200 g.
Turnip Russian fairy tale has a universal purpose. Vegetables are rich in vitamin C, making them ideal for winter consumption. The harvest can be stored in a cellar or basement without any problems.
Bug
The Zhuchka variety gives harvest in the early period. Vegetables are harvested 50 days after sprouts form. The leaves grow in a semi-erect rosette. The root vegetables are yellow in color, spherical in shape, have juicy pulp and a pleasant, delicate taste. Their average weight is 130 g. Up to 2.5 kg of vegetables are harvested from each square meter.
Komatsuna
Komatsuna is a representative of the leaf turnip. The shoots of the variety are ready to eat a month after the formation of shoots. The leaves of the plant are oval, green, medium in size, slightly wavy at the edges. The rosette is erect, the height of the bush reaches 20 cm. The vegetable has a mass of 150 g. Up to 3.6 kg of harvest is harvested per square meter.
The sweetest varieties of turnips
Not all gardeners like turnips due to their dense texture and tart taste. Root vegetables of modern varieties have tender and juicy pulp without any bitterness. The sweet taste of vegetables is due to the content of mono- and disaccharides. The varieties with white root vegetables have the best taste. Below we consider the sweetest varieties of turnips suitable for growing in all regions with photos.
Golden ball
Golden ball is the most delicious variety of turnip, according to many gardeners. Yellowish-golden, spherical root crops ripen in the mid-early period. They are large in size, weighing up to 400 g.The juicy and tender pulp has a sweetish taste. It contains a lot of fiber, vitamins and microelements.
The crop is dug up as it ripens. Vegetables are well stored and transported. They are used for the daily diet, including for children.
Dunyasha
The Dunyasha variety is distinguished by medium-early ripening. The period of technical ripeness begins 70 days after the formation of sprouts. The rosette of leaves of the crop is semi-vertical, medium in size. Root vegetables have a spherical shape and a smooth surface. The variety is resistant to cold weather and is not susceptible to flowering.
The skin and pulp of the Dunyash turnip, rich in vitamins and mineral compounds, is yellow in color. There are no coarse fibers in vegetables. Their weight ranges from 150 to 200 g. Tasting qualities are assessed as high. Up to 3 kg of root crops are harvested per square meter.
Milanese pink
Milanese pink turnip ripens in up to 60 days. Its roots are spherical and have smooth skin. Inside, the pulp is white, highly juicy, and has an excellent taste. The variety is not susceptible to diseases and flowering, and produces a high yield.
The average weight of the vegetable is 100 g, the largest specimens grow up to 200 g. The Milanese rose variety is good to eat fresh and after heat treatment. It is included in the menu for children and diabetics.
Conclusion
The turnip varieties presented above are distinguished by good yield and unpretentiousness. Zoned hybrids are chosen for planting. They are adapted to the conditions of a particular region. Particular attention should be paid to sweet varieties that have excellent taste.
