Turnips are a versatile and easy-to-grow root vegetable that can be boiled, fried, roasted, mashed, or eaten raw. They are also a valuable food source for animals and can be stored for long periods. Turnips have a spicy flavor due to being in the mustard family and are believed to have originated in Asia before spreading to Europe. They are a popular crop in Northern Europe due to their durability and ability to withstand harsh climates.
A turnip is an edible tuber, formally known as Brassica rapa, and widely grown worldwide for food. The whitish to yellow roots are edible and store well, and the greens can be eaten like spinach or grazed as a cover crop by farm animals. In addition to being readily available in many grocery stores, turnips are also very easy to grow, as they are resistant to frost and drought. Historically, turnips have been a vital food source in northern nations because they keep well over winter, providing a valuable form of plant nutrition.
The spicy flavor of a young turnip and fresh turnip greens is a result of turnips being in the mustard family. The origins of the turnip appear to lie in Asia, although it was brought west many centuries ago. Turnips were grown in ancient Greece and Rome and also spread to Northern Europe. As Northern Europe’s climate is much harsher, turnips have become a popular crop, thanks to their durability.
The turnip is boiled, fried, roasted, mashed and sometimes eaten raw, depending on personal taste. Young turnips are juicier and tastier and are preferred if consumers can get them. As turnips grow larger and larger, they become woody. This will happen even after a long period of storage. Like other root vegetables, turnips keep very well in a cool, dark cellar, although they can also be stored in the refrigerator for a shorter period of time, usually about two weeks.
In addition to being a useful part of the human diet, turnips have also historically been used as a food source for animals. The herds of animals can graze the turnip greens fields almost all year round, as different lots of turnips can be planted for different harvest times. Greens are an excellent source of vitamins K, A and C, along with folate, manganese, calcium and copper.
To grow turnips, the seeds can be planted directly into the ground and well watered. As the young turnips begin to grow, they can be thinned periodically to leave enough room for the tubers to develop. Within 45-60 days, turnips can be harvested and stored, eaten or stored in cans or pickling jars. The smaller the turnip, the tastier, so many gardeners prefer to harvest young turnips and replant the seeds on a regular basis so they can maintain a steady supply of the crop.
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