Recession Boosts the Turnip’s Revival as a Trendy Vegetable
by coffeeadict on Apr 15, 2009 with 7 Comments
Turnips were often considered to be old-fashioned or primarily used as animal food. However, in hard economic times people return to the growing of cheap vegetables. As a result of that, cool restaurants pick this trend up and serve food that includes the good old turnip.
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1. What are turnips?
Turnips are brassicas (Brassica rapa) and like to grow in rich, moist soil. They form ball-shaped taproots, the lower and bigger part of which looks white. On the top, where the bulb-like ball protrudes the soil level, they are darker colored. Depending on the variety this part can look red, purple, green or even also white. The root ball is 5 to 20 centimeters in diameter. Smaller varieties are usually designed for human consumption, while on the other hand bigger varieties are used as an efficient animal feed. They are rich in nutrients, which is why they are so popular in livestock feeding.
2. How to grow them?
Turnips are fast growing vegetables. Basically, they need to be treated like all brassicas. Most beneficial for them is sowing in well dog soil, which should never be allowed to dry out. Keeping the turnips’ ground moist at all times ensures that they don’t become woody. The maturing plants should be harvested while still young in order to give you their best taste. The maximum size for optimum consumption is about tennis ball size. If they are allowed to grow larger, they loose in taste and become considerably harder.
3. Which variety?
Some interesting varieties for home growing in your garden are:
“Snowball” from “unwins” (a snow white and tasty variety),
“Primera F1″ from “Thompson and Morgan”,
“Royal Crown Hybrid” from “neseeds” (very colorful) or the very unusual
“Rappa Mezza Lunga A Coletta Viola from “neseeds”.
4. Why do turnips become more trendy today?
First of all, they are cheap. You’ll get 1750 seeds for approx. €1.50, which will be enough for sowing an entire row on a small field (approx. 45 feet long). Then, they are easy to grow. And third: In hardship times people always remember some old-fashioned ideas that can save you a few bugs and still can contribute to a wholesome meal. Reportedly, there are some top restaurants in the UK, which have put turnip dishes on their menus. And some growers just can’t produce enough of them with the demand soaring. It could well be that the “turnip prize” will have to be renamed if the popularity of the turnip will even rise further…
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Published in: Gardening
Toni Sellaro | Apr 16, 2009 | Reply
Hi coffeeadict. I have never tried cooking turnips. I am interested now after reading your article. I have no idea though how much it costs here in Sydney as I have never bought it. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
R J Evans | Apr 17, 2009 | Reply
Turnip proze – lol!
)
Mark Gordon Brown | Apr 19, 2009 | Reply
my wife wont let me grow them, we have a huge garden, but she hates the taste of them, maybe we could use them as animal feed.
B Nelson | Apr 19, 2009 | Reply
Turnips are NASTY! My mom used to make them, thank heavens we live in Alberta Canada, there is no recession here – lots of help wanted signs out.. and people refuse to take a job unless they get a signing bonus!
kate smedley | May 6, 2009 | Reply
I’m not a turnip fan but this was well written and enjoyable.
OhSugar | Jun 11, 2009 | Reply
Nice post. I actually like turnips, but only if they are raw:)
Ruby Hawk | Jun 22, 2009 | Reply
We have always eaten turnips, in fact my sister has a big patch of them right now. We are already eating the greens and waiting for the turnips to mature. love those turnips and corn bread.