Turnip is one of the oldest vegetable plants. Revealing the topic, growing turnips in the open ground, I hope, will help gardeners learn more about, unfortunately, a rare vegetable in our gardens. Turnip has been known for over 4 thousand years. In Russia, according to various sources, it has been grown since the XIV century - it was imported from Greece. As a vegetable crop, it has been a staple food for a very long time. But the appearance of potatoes reduced the importance of this root crop.
Biological features of turnips as plants
Turnip (Brassica rapa L.) belongs to the cabbage family. This is a two year old plant. In the first year, root vegetables, a rosette of leaves are formed, in the second year, the plant blooms and forms seeds. Turnip seeds are round, smooth, small, brown. The mass of 1 thousand seeds is 1.5-3.8 g. Germination is maintained up to 5 years.
Turnip is the most cold-resistant root vegetable plant. Seeds begin to germinate at a temperature of 1-3 ° C. The optimum temperature for seed germination is 8-10 ° C. Young plants withstand frosts to -6 ° C, adults - up to -8 ° C. Early ripening varieties are less resistant to frost than late ripe ones.
Turnip subspecies
On the territory of Russia, European turnip varieties are mainly grown. The shape of root crops in them can be flat, round, oval and elongated. The outer coloring of root crops is yellow or white, the head of the root crop in some cases can be purple or green. The pulp of root crops is yellow or white. The bark is thin, smooth. Root crops are immersed in the soil at one third or half of their length. The leaves are dissected, less often whole, pubescent, but they are smooth. The mass of the root crop is from 200 grams to half a kilogram.
In turnip varieties of the European subspecies, root vegetables are used for food, both raw and after cooking.
Recently, turnip varieties of the Japanese subspecies have become popular. Plants form smooth, beautiful, round or flat-round root crops with a diameter of 5-20 cm of white color. The leaves are whole.
Root crops of Japanese turnip have a less pronounced flavor inherent in European. They accumulate up to 17 mg% of vitamin C, a number of other valuable components. They differ in precocity.
Along with root crops, many varieties of the Japanese subspecies also use leaves for food. Their leaf blades are thin and delicate, characterized by a significant content of ascorbic acid (up to 75 mg%), carotene (1.8 mg%), and minerals.
There are leafy forms of Japanese turnip. Plants form a small root crop and a well-developed leafy rosette, consisting of large, non-pubescent leaves. Such green products contain up to 75 mg% ascorbic acid, then 3.3 mg% carotene.
In the republics of Central Asia, local varieties of subspecies of Afghan turnip are grown. These root crops are flat-round, with red or white bark.
Turnip variety selection
We usually grow varieties of both the old Russian selection (Petrovskaya) and Japanese (Geisha). In addition to these varieties recommended by the State Register, varieties Maiskaya yellow green-headed, Milan white violet-headed, Golden Ball, Snow Maiden, and others are cultivated.
Growing turnips - optimal conditions
Turnip is a photophilous plant. Good illumination contributes to the accumulation of vitamin C root crops. It places high demands on illumination in the initial period of growth. This is a long day plant.
The optimum temperature for growing, root crop growth is 15-20 ° С. Low positive temperatures provoke the flowering of plants.
For normal turnip growth, sufficient moisture in the soil and air is necessary. It is especially demanding on soil moisture during germination and the formation of leaves, as well as before harvesting. Watering during these periods positively affects the taste and yield of root crops.
Suitable for growing turnips are loamy and sandy loamy soils, cultivated peatlands. It tolerates the increased acidity of the soil. Varieties of turnips with flat root crops are reconciled with a small arable layer (15-18 cm).
The best predecessors are crops under which organic fertilizers were applied: cucumber, zucchini, tomato, legumes, potatoes, corn. You should not grow turnips in acidified areas, after cabbage. Turnips and other cultures of the cabbage family should not return to their original place no earlier than 4 years later.
Turnips have a significant need for batteries.
Nitrogen is required throughout the growing period, it contributes to an increase in the protein content in root crops. With its excess, the growing season increases, and the quality and quality of products decrease. In the first stages of growing, root growth, phosphorus nutrition is important.
Phosphorus stimulates root growth, increases the resistance of plants to adverse conditions, increases the sugar content of root crops.
Potassium contributes to the accumulation of protein, carbohydrates, ascorbic acid by the vegetable.
For the normal growth and development of plants, calcium, magnesium, boron, copper, manganese are also important.
Turnip planting - agricultural technology
Turnip is a precocious crop that allows you to sow it several times a season. Mostly it is grown in two, less often - three terms. For summer consumption, seeds are sown in the spring - in the Kuban at the end of March - April, and in central Russia - the end of April-early May. Harvest is ready in 60-70 days.
July sowing is acceptable for autumn use; the growing period is 50-60 days. For laying for winter storage, sowing is carried out in late July-early August, the crop is harvested after 70-75 days.
With spring sowing, the soil begins to be prepared in the fall. Spend a digging with making the necessary fertilizers. In spring, deep loosening (up to 20 cm) is carried out with the remaining fertilizer being applied. For summer sowing, the soil is dug up to a depth of 20-22 cm, watered before sowing (15-20 l of water per 1 m2.
Turnips can be grown on a flat surface (in summer) or on ridges or ridges (in spring). The distance between the rows is 30 cm.
It is grown by the 2-3rd crop after application of manure. If organic matter was not applied, then give 2-3 kg / m for chill.2 humus. Phosphoric and potassium fertilizers are applied in the fall (2/3 doses) and for pre-sowing treatment (1/3 doses). Nitrogen fertilizers are fed in the spring. Estimated doses of fertilizers: urea - 10-15 g / m2superphosphate - 30-40 g / m2potassium chloride - 15-20 g / m2. If necessary, liming the soil.
Preparation of seeds for sowing includes their calibration and soaking. For convenience, uniformity of seeding, the seeds are mixed with sand or a mixture of sand with superphosphate. Furrows with a depth of 1.5-2 cm are made according to the marked rows, which, if necessary, moisturize. Especially important is sowing with watering during summer and autumn growing periods.
The seeding rate is 1-0.15 g / m2. Seeding depth 1-2 cm. You can also sow in the nesting method, 2-3 seeds per nest, followed by thinning. Shoots usually appear on days 4-7, depending on temperature.
Crop care includes the fight against soil crust, which is done by small, 3-5 cm loosening. For the entire growing period, 3-5 inter-row treatments are carried out.
Prior to the formation of three true leaves on plants, they are thinned out. The distance between plants in the row is 6-8 cm (for summer crops - up to 10 cm).
On 1 m2 place about 48 plants.
The soil must be constantly moist, irrigation rate of 10-20 liters of oxen per 1 m2. Watering is recommended to alternate with cultivations.
The main points of turnip cultivation agricultural technology are:
- fight against cruciferous flea and cabbage fly;
- ensuring sufficient moisture and cleanliness of the soil;
- ensuring optimal plant density.
Harvesting and storing turnips
For summer consumption, root crops are harvested selectively upon reaching a diameter of 6-8 cm. For autumn and winter consumption, turnips are harvested before frosts in one go. Plants pulled out of the soil, immediately cut the leaves. Productivity is 2-5 kg / m2.
Turnip is well kept in the winter. The optimum storage temperature is 0-1 ° C, the optimal humidity is 90-95%. Root crops are sprinkled with wet sand or peat, and they can also be stored in plastic bags. All this allows you to provide yourself with fresh root crops for the whole year.
Pest and turnip disease control
At the first stages of turnip growth - before the formation of the first pair of true leaves, and this is about 10 days after emergence, the most dangerous for plants is the cruciferous flea and cabbage fly. From cabbage flies, it is recommended to apply Bazudin or Medvetox preparations to the soil. From cruciferous fleas, the preparation Spark (10 g tablet per 10 g water) helps well. If you do not take appropriate measures, then in hot dry weather, cruciferous fleas can completely destroy the seedlings. Against a cruciferous flea, it is important to keep the crop area moist.
Of the more radical measures to control flea and cabbage flies, dusting the area with fine lime, tobacco dust or ash can be recommended.
Of the diseases, turnip can be affected by keel and mucous bacteriosis. To avoid this, you should water the soil with a solution of colloidal sulfur when sowing, adhere to crop rotation.