How to Tell When Turnips are Ready for Harvest?

dpurdy · June 25, 2013

This is my first time growing turnip. My wife talked me into growing some this year. I usually eat turnip a couple of times a year. I always like it, but normally most people eat it around the holidays. I've posted a picture of my turnips which are about softball sized right now. Do turnip get sweeter when they get larger or are they sweeter when they are harvested when they are smaller? Any insight to storing them would also be useful. Thanks for any input.
dpurdy

RebelRidin · June 25, 2013

Turnips (IME) are best when they grow quickly and the root matures in cool or at least not hot weather. I usually grow them in the fall. Turnips that grow too slowly, left too long or mature in the heat tend to be hot and or pithy.

Softball size is plenty big. Pull them, cut off the tops just above the root and clean off teh worst of the soil. Turnips store like other root crops (think root cellar). A cool location with good air circulation is best. They can store for several months.

fischer1611 · June 25, 2013

Purple top turnips are best when they are about 2-3 inches across. I use them all the time for greens also.
You can cut, blanche and freeze them for soups etc.

I usually get two crops a year. One in spring and one in fall around frost. I am just pulling mine this week because of the weird weather we've had this year.

dpurdy · June 26, 2013

Thanks for the input guys. I will pulling my turnip this week. The weather here is turning warmer and they are big enough according to your descriptions. I thought that I had heard from someone that they will turn pithy and the flavor turns on them, it left for too long. That's why I asked the question here. I will trying to grow them later this year as a fall crop. They will be a new addition to my cold weather crops this fall along with spinach, beets, and others. Thanks RebelRidin and fischer1611.
dpurdy

tjg911 · June 26, 2013

might be better as a fall crop. i grew them a few years as a spring crop and as it gets hotter and they get bigger (june) they can get woody. i'd use the dtm as a guage. i picked mine at 1" to 2" max. may depend upon the variety, check the seed catalog or package and see if they have a recommendation.

tom

Crandrew · June 26, 2013

I grew a ton in the spring and the purple tops I would pull when they were 2-3 in in diameter. I found them to be sweeter when they were younger, like cucumbers and micro greens.

dpurdy · June 26, 2013

Thanks all for the input about turnips. I harvested them today. The diameters range from 2 1/2 inches to 4 inches. I'll be trying some this weekend with dinner. I'm sure that they will taste great. One of my favorite vegetables that I only get to eat a few times of the year. Thanks again, I would have left them in the ground longer and possibly ruined the flavor and texture. Here's a picture of a couple turnips along with a fresh picked Sweet Success cucumber.
dpurdy

Crandrew · June 26, 2013

Very Pretty! Could you share how you will be consuming them? (recipe, use)

June 25, 2013	#2
RebelRidin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Maryland's Eastern Shore Posts: 993	Turnips (IME) are best when they grow quickly and the root matures in cool or at least not hot weather. I usually grow them in the fall. Turnips that grow too slowly, left too long or mature in the heat tend to be hot and or pithy. Softball size is plenty big. Pull them, cut off the tops just above the root and clean off teh worst of the soil. Turnips store like other root crops (think root cellar). A cool location with good air circulation is best. They can store for several months. __________________ George _____________________________ "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure." Thomas Jefferson, 1787 Last edited by RebelRidin; June 25, 2013 at 04:14 PM.

June 26, 2013	#5
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	might be better as a fall crop. i grew them a few years as a spring crop and as it gets hotter and they get bigger (june) they can get woody. i'd use the dtm as a guage. i picked mine at 1" to 2" max. may depend upon the variety, check the seed catalog or package and see if they have a recommendation. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

June 25, 2013	#3
fischer1611 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Iowa Posts: 390	Purple top turnips are best when they are about 2-3 inches across. I use them all the time for greens also. You can cut, blanche and freeze them for soups etc. I usually get two crops a year. One in spring and one in fall around frost. I am just pulling mine this week because of the weird weather we've had this year.

June 26, 2013	#4
dpurdy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Norwich, New York Posts: 255	Thanks for the input guys. I will pulling my turnip this week. The weather here is turning warmer and they are big enough according to your descriptions. I thought that I had heard from someone that they will turn pithy and the flavor turns on them, it left for too long. That's why I asked the question here. I will trying to grow them later this year as a fall crop. They will be a new addition to my cold weather crops this fall along with spinach, beets, and others. Thanks RebelRidin and fischer1611. dpurdy

June 26, 2013	#6
Crandrew Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: asdf Posts: 1,202	I grew a ton in the spring and the purple tops I would pull when they were 2-3 in in diameter. I found them to be sweeter when they were younger, like cucumbers and micro greens.