Brassica rapa - Rapifera group

Brassicaceae

Turnip

Biennial herb grown as an annual for its edible tap root. Lyrate-pinnatifid leaves, dark green and often glossy. Flowers are a small inflourescence. White-yellow in terminal racemes.

Uses

Harvest 2-3 months after planting. Cut off leaves and wash the tap root. Used as a boiled or baked vegetable and in soups and stews. Vegetable.

Culture

Requires cool conditions for proper development. In most climates sow seed in late summer or late spring. Soil must be well drained and well aerated. Phosphorous, potassium, boron and iron are important for growth. Prefers a soil pH of 6.0-6.5 Leaves are often attacked by insects, but the edible root has few problems. Do not plant near tomatoes.

Propagation

No information available at this time...

Cultivars

No information available at this time...

Plant Health

No information available at this time...

More info

'Home Vegetable Growing' and 'Commercial Vegetable Production' courses through Australian Correspondence Schools, see www.acs.edu.au/hort. 'Commercial Hydroponics' on CDROM from Australian Correspondence Schools, see www.acs.edu.au/shop

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