Brassica rapa (Rapifera Group)
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- BRAS-ih-ka RAY-puh
- Description
-
Turnips are a root vegetable in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) and originated ffrom Asia several thousand years ago. The genus name Brassica is Latin for cabbage.
They grow 1-1.5 feet tall in full sun in amended well-drained moist garden soil. In North Carolina plant seeds or transplants in mid-summer for a fall crop. Get a soil test prior to planting and fertilize according to the results.
The bulb itself comes in various colors from yellow to white with or without red or purple at the top. They can also be round or flattish. They are best harvested when about 2 inches in diameter and taste best after a frost. Young leaves are great in a salad or older leaves can be sautéed. Insufficient water, lack of fertilizer or delayed harvesting can cause the plant to become woody. If left in the ground they will bloom in early spring.
Use the plant in an edible and fall garden.
Problems, Pests and Diseases: Insects that can be found include aphids, whiteflies, flea beetles, and caterpillars such as cabbage loopers, cutworms, and beet armyworms. Slugs and snails may also be a problem. Diseases include club root, white rust, leaf spot, and rots such as damping off and bacterial soft rot. See pests of conifers to the left.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Just Right’
- ‘Purple Top White Globe’
- ‘Yellow Globe’
Golden roots
- ‘Just Right’
- ‘Just Right’, ‘Purple Top White Globe’, ‘Yellow Globe’
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Just Right’
- ‘Purple Top White Globe’
- ‘Yellow Globe’
Golden roots
- ‘Just Right’
- ‘Just Right’, ‘Purple Top White Globe’, ‘Yellow Globe’
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Brassica
- Species:
- rapa
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Edible vegetable.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Edibility:
- Root and leaves are edible raw or cooked
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Cool Season Vegetable
- Edible
- Vegetable
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Siliqua
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits are in the form of a siliqua with a long tapering beak. They appear on ascending pedicels. Contain blackish or red-brown seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small yellow 4-petaled flowers
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Pinnatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are generally light green and slightly hairy. They are an elongated oval, with toothed or wavy edges.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
- Problem for Horses
