Vegetables
If you do n’t like turnips , this delightful , sweet gourmet root word will change your mind ! Former constitutional Fannie Merritt Farmer and vegetable expert Logan Hailey digs into mere develop tip for refreshing crunchy Nipponese turnip that even nipper will crave !
Contents
If you do n’t like turnips , this delicious , sweet , bon vivant root will commute your mind ! A good deal of multitude rumple their nose at the thought of turnip . These mustard - family stem often get a big rap for their slightly bitter penchant , brownish - purple colouring material , and connexion with “ piteous valet ’s ” culinary art . But the Nipponese ‘ Hakurei ’ white turnip turn all these generalizations on their head .
Its crisp , larder politic grain and meek tonic flavor are wrap in a gorgeous bloodless bundle that tastes so sweet and juicy that it ’s toilsome to even call it a turnip ! ‘ Hakurei ’ turnips are the trendy foodie cousins of your grandma’sclassic purple top turnip . The C. P. Snow - white rounded roots have a delicate fruity savour tasty enough to eat raw ! They have of late derive popularity in American farm - to - mesa cuisine . Once you seek them , you ’ll probably never garden without them again .
The ‘ Hakurei ’ is remarkably easy to grow , requiring similar outer space and criminal maintenance to a radish plant . Just be sure you sow a lot because these roots disappear quickly once you describe how tasty they are straight from the garden . lease ’s turn over intoeverything you postulate to know about growing angelical Japanese turnips ! Surely , they will repossess the humble turnip ’s report in the garden !
‘ Hakurei ’ Turnip Overview
History and Cultivation
Turnips and theirrutabaga relativeshave been cultivated for yard of years . Because the white turnip root is sohardy , frost - live , and well-fixed to grow , they were often considered a food germ for the poor . The easily storable antecedent bring home the bacon enough victuals for granger and livestock throughout the winter . European aristocrats refused to wipe out them .
However , this humble vegetable was a raw material for a reason : it is remarkably resilient ! Turnips are simple to cultivate , humiliated - maintenance , leisurely to store , and nutritious . Their aboriginal origins likely came from wild mustards growing throughout Europe and Asia . As member of the Brassicaceae or cruciferous family of vegetables , turnips are also related to broccoli , Brassica oleracea botrytis , kale , Brussels sprouts , and kohlrabi .
What is ‘Hakurei’ Turnip?
‘ Hakurei ’ is a assortment of turnips with affectionate white rotund roots better reap when they reach golf - ball size of it or somewhat larger . The smack is touchy and slimly fruity , between an orchard apple tree and a modest radish .
Unlike their dense storage root word relative , these new - eating turnipsdon’t need to be cooked and are often best love directly from the garden ! you could cook them in salad , slaw , kimchi , warm muddle , soups , roasts , and sautés across many cuisine .
Also live as Tokyo white turnip , salad Brassica rapa , or Nipponese turnips , ‘ Hakurei ’ was originate in Japan around World War II and has since become a popular intercrossed seed variety widely available in the United States . The root veg has a juicy , refreshing sweetness that can be bask raw , pickled , moil , or roasted , arrange it aside from the dense starchiness of standard turnips or potato .
Where Did ‘Hakurei’ Turnips Originate?
‘ Hakurei ’ turnips were developed by plant breeders in Japan during World War II . The mildly honeyed , buttery - crisp roots have tenuous , pearly white cutis that does n’t require peeling or much cooking . As Japanese the great unwashed faced severe food shortages in the forties and L , husbandman and gardener wrick to thisquick - grow , nutritious - dense cropto assistance fee masses of thirsty the great unwashed .
Recall that Japan was prohibited from trade with the United States in 1941 . Previously , they were heavily pendent on solid food importation . Farmers were coerce to jump into activity when international nutrient was cut off practically overnight . ‘ Hakurei ’ white turnip became an important fill-in for the inadequate rations of rice , edible bean , and insects . They develop quickly and easily and can be wipe out impudent .
Propagation
If you ’ve evergrown a radish , you ’ll be delighted to find that the delectably suave and crisp ‘ Hakurei ’ requires almost the exact same maintenance and stipulation . The small pitch-black brassica seeds arebest sow like a shot in the garden .
Direct Sowing
The good time to plant turnips is in thecool weather of fallor spring . However , you’re able to plan for multiple successiveness of ‘ Hakurei ’ white turnip throughout early summer . The flora tolerate moderate frost butprefer to germinate in informal soil around 65 - 80 ° F . If you ’re uncertain , use a soil thermometer probe before embed .
make a weed - gratis seminal fluid bed , optionally scan smooth a 1 ” layer of compost over the aerofoil . produce shallow furrow ¼ ” to ½ ” deeply in course 12 - 18 ” apart . disseminate the turnip seed in 2 - 4 ” wide bands , each seed about 1 - 2 ” aside .
Some granger inseminate in clusters of 2 - 3 seeds every 2 ” , allowing you to selectively harvest and thin them as they age . Like radishes , salad turnips do n’t mind rise in slight bunches as long as there is room for each bulb to grow 1 - 2 ” in diameter . Avoid sowing too thickly , or it will be unmanageable to screen out through the jumble of greens to right thin .
mildly cover with a flimsy layer of ground . forefend forget too profoundly , or the seeds may not have enough free energy to reach the surface . wield continuous wet with a lachrymation can or lover - snoot hosepipe .
Germination takes7 - 14 daylight . After sprouting , you may habituate your fingernail to pinch away any overcrowded seedlings . Be careful not to yank or touch the sister flora you need to keep .
Arow screening is extremely recommendedno matter where you direct semen your salad turnips . These nimble - growing roots are , unfortunately , very popular amongst flea mallet . The flea beetle prey on youthful crops and can carry off the folio with a million midget shotgun hole that can quick skeletonize seedlings .
As an constitutive husbandman , I never ever seeded turnip without a quarrel cover . I give the run-in covers over the plants for the integrality of their 30 to 40 - day lifecycle . The row fabric create a physical barrier to keep pests out . It also create a warm microclimate that can accelerate up germination . ‘ Hakurei ’ white turnip develop under covering yield more beautiful , flawless , and blemish - free pearly clean roots with tender mustardy greens .
The samara to successful rowing natural covering usance isinstalling irrigation underneath the framework . The soil moisture will be odd if you strain to overhead water through the fabric . It ’s good to apply drip lines or soaker hose under the textile . Otherwise , remove the framework to body of water with a hosepipe and clothe it back over the top . No basketball game are required for this low - produce harvest . The fabric can softly “ plasterer’s float ” over the surface of the greens . Be sure you press down the edges with sandbags or tranquil rocks to forestall the binding from blowing away .
Transplanting from Cell Trays
While less vernacular , you may also graft these white turnip or grow them in containers . Many people consider it ’s not possible to transplant taproot crops ( this is true for carrot and slight cucurbits ) , but white turnip do n’t mind transplanting . This is a bully way of life to get a head start in spring and protect new plants from pests .
Biodegradable flock or a paper grass are thebest for transplanting antecedent cropsbecause you do n’t have to remove the works from the container . If you do n’t have access to biodegradable pots , you may use a 144 - cell tray .
fulfill container with a well - drain soil premix and inseminate clump of 2 - 3 turnip seeds in each cellphone . Seeds should be planted ¼ to ½ in deeply and lightlycovered with vermiculiteor potting mixture . defend ordered moisture until germination , preserve the tray in the same full sunlight orbit as your other seedlings .
When the seedling are 2 - 4 ” tall , you could prepare them for transplant by slowly reducing water and hardening them off for a few nights outside .
Planting
The estimable time to plant gourmet salad turnips isspring or come . However , in mild climates , these quick - flip-flop tooth root crops can besown in continuous successionthroughout the summertime . Here are some more details for a aerodynamic and successful planting process :
Spacing
The spatial arrangement for salad turnips depends on how declamatory you need the theme to be . Radish - sized or golf - ball - sized turnip can bespaced 1 - 2 ” apartor grown in clusters of 2 - 3 turnip with 2 - 3 ” between each cluster . Leave 12 - 18 ” between the rows to allow space for the leafy vegetable to proliferate .
How to Transplant
If you select to transfer ‘ Hakurei ’ turnips , the cluster - sowing method acting helps prevent root damage . The radical of 2 - 3 seedling per cellular phone should appear robust and vivacious before moving them into the garden . Ensure the roots satiate out the cells so the root musket ball rest fairly intact when you get rid of it .
make your bottom like a seed seam , repair it with a thin stratum of compost on top . Make small “ dibber ” where each group of turnips will go , and insure the grime is thoroughly tease at least 6 ” deep . Do n’t cram the cell into your garden dirt , or you might damage the taproot , get the whole seedling to flop before develop the rounded white bulb .
Succession Planting
You ’ll believably want a continuous supply after you fall in love with these delicious turnips . chronological succession planting is the art of staggering your sowings so your turnips mature at different times throughout the season .
For a fast - growing craw like ‘ Hakurei , ’ you sure enough do n’t want dozens of roots in the ground at once . These crisp clean veggies arebest enjoyed when they ’re youngand can get outsized reasonably promptly . The larger turnip are still tasty but not as tender and sweet .
To enjoy veritable harvests of perfectly sized radical , seed a run-in of Tokyo turnips every 1 - 2 week . As you wind up glean your other spring planting , the next succession will be nearing golf - ball size of it , and a third succession will be germinating . This give up you to maximise fresh harvests throughout the season without take too much garden space .
you could technically sow turnips throughout the spring , early summer , and fall . The only time I wouldavoid grow these turnip is in the peak summer estrus of July and August , sometimes into September in the southwestern United States . In warm climate , the blacken summer can make bolting or overly spicy , acute roots . store your white turnip and radishes for slightly cool weather and savor them around times of light frosts , as this is when the roots are the sweetest .
How Long Does It Take for ‘Hakurei’ Turnips to Grow?
Young , golf - globe - sized Brassica rapa can be harvestedas quickly as 30 days after seeding . Larger salad turnip take 40 - 50 24-hour interval . The ancestor have smoother skins and a more crank grain when harvested small . The greens are also less spicy when picked early .
How to Grow
You will have no problem develop Tokyo turnip if you ’ve successfully grown a Japanese radish . The keys to achiever are :
Here ’s a few more details :
Light
These refreshing rootsrequire full sun to thrive . Choose an area with at least 6 - 8 hours of direct sunshine day by day . mottled shade is fine in southern climate . However , too much shade can make “ leggy ” or spindly super acid and low , developing root . If your white turnip look pale unripened or grow very slowly , it ’s credibly a sign that they are n’t getting enough light .
Water
Consistent wet is central for happy stem . large fluctuations from bone - dry to soggy wet land can cause weird variation , diseases , and undesirable texture . rather , keep a dripping line of reasoning or soaker hose near each row of turnips . These bulbs are very shallow - root and only access water system within the upper 3 - 4 ” of soil .
Irrigating at the home is very of import , especially when using row covering fire ( which is highly commend ) . Overhead sprinkler may have difficultness saturating the root zone and can cause disease problem on the leaves .
Once established , turnips typically needabout 1 inch of water per workweek . Check the soil moisture every couple of days in the early phase . stick around your finger in the dirt and estimate the wet based on how much soil stick to your skin . If your pelt comes out fresh , it ’s too dry . The grease is too wet if your finger comes out looking as though you just dip it in imp batter . observe a well-chosen medium where a little bit of stain sticks to your skin and feel pleasantly dampish , like a wrung - out parasite .
Soil
Loamy , rich , well - drained territory isvital for happy vegetable tooth root . Ensure your garden seam has plenteousness of caliber compost and organic matter commingle into it . Because ‘ Hakurei ’ are fairly shallow - rootle , you could grow them in lower beds as short as 8 ” deep . I like to put them in theBirdie ’s Urban Short 9 - in-1 Metal Raised Bed . Save yourtall raised bedsfor deep - rout crops like carrot , tomato , sweet potatoes , and cucumbers .
The stain should feel idle and fluffy . If it is profound and compacted , the Brassica rapa will have difficulty infiltrate the upper layers and form respectable , tender roots . Sometimes , they will even undertake to grow above the grime surface because their taproots are n’t strong enough to come apart through knockout soil . In this case , a broad fork is the unadulterated means to aerate your grease and add oxygen to the lower bed . This also meliorate drainage , water infiltration , and good microbial bodily process .
Climate and Temperature
Like most brassica - crime syndicate crop , turnips enjoy cool weather condition and tend to run off in extreme heat . The ideal ambient temperature is50 to 70 ° F . When established , these origin are mildly frost tolerant . In hotter climates , use ghost material or only flora in the spring and surrender . Hotter weather typically yields strong - flavored root that may have more of a radish - alike spice .
The best soil temperature compass for idealistic sprouting is 65 - 80 ° F , but they can evolve in dirt as cold as 60 ° F . When in uncertainty , habituate a soil thermometer investigation to check your bed temperatures before seeding .
Fertilizing
These endearing root veggiesdon’t need a mass of fertility to thrive . Oftentimes , a rich compost is plenty to assure an abundant harvest time . If your territory miss fertility , sum a modest dose of constituent all - purpose fertilizer to slow - release throughout the growing time of year . Avoid anything with excessive nitrogen , as this can fuel massive green outgrowth at the disbursement of root developing .
Row Cover
If you want to grow flawless pearly livid ‘ Hakurei ’ turnips like a pro , do not skip this step ! dustup cover is a semi - translucent woven agricultural textile that set aside water system , sunshine , and air in but keep pests out .
Flea beetlesare a major issue with this crop . Root maggot can also be debatable , and they develop from a little grayish fly that can be excluded with a covering fire . You probably do n’t desire to spray your turnip all the time , so be sure to use this underrated garden peter !
throw out or “ air bladder ” the cloth over the top of the bed when seeding . Keep the course cover on for the craw ’s intact life . Cut your words covers to the arrant size for your beds ( bequeath a foot on each side to cast anchor them down ) so you could use them for every succession .
This is thebiggest sodbuster ’s secret to beautiful salad turnips :
Remove the row fabric when you need to slenderize , weed , or harvest time , then thrash it back on . Flea beetle can smell these roots from a mile away , and once a few get underneath the cover , your turnips could be doomed .
Varieties
‘ Hakurei ’ is often used synonymously with ‘ Tokyo ’ turnip , salad turnip , and Nipponese white turnip . However , afew variations of this sweet , invigorated - eat turnipreclaim the tarnished report of the classic ‘ Purple Top ’ turnip . Rest assured , we do n’t entail to detest on the old - fashioned turnips ; they can still be yummy when grown and train properly !
‘Hakurei’
The original F1 hybrid , ‘ Hakurei , ’ is thesuperior pick for fresh feeding . The mild flavor , downhearted spicery , and untoughened Malus pumila - like crush are scrumptious .
The rootage are take for near - perfect livid skin , naughty grain , and fruity flavor notes . commemorate , you ca n’t save true - to - character seeds from loanblend , so this cultivar has to be buy back every season .
‘Tokyo Cross’
Very similar to ‘ Hakurei , ’ this is another white-hot Japanese hybrid that gain the All - American Selection award . The perfect ball - shaped rootsmature in 25 - 45 daysand have great thunderbolt resistance . It is sometimes calledkabu , kabura , ormanjingin Japanese .
‘Hirosaki Red’
An too soon bright red salad turnip , ‘ Hirosaki Red , ’ impart color to your fountain salads . They areslightly spicier than Tokyo turnipsbut less acute than a radish . We hump the stamp , juicy texture and pretty pink skins .
Pests and Diseases
turnip arefairly resilient to plague and disease . Thanks to their agile growth cycle , you may easily avoid damage or alternatively pull a crop and embark on over if things go wrong .
Flea Beetles
As mentioned above , flea beetle can sense turnips and radishes from long distance and come in in with a vengeance . These shiny little beetles can put a million flyspeck holes in your white turnip greens in a few Clarence Day .
Fortunately , prevention is simple ! Do n’t skimp on the wrangle concealment ! forcible exclusion is the easiest and most ecological mode to keep these pests out . you’re able to alsouse a dilutedneem oilsolution andcompanion plantingwith white alyssum , Anethum graveolens , or yarrow to draw in leechlike wasps and other innate predator .
Root Maggots and Cabbage Flies
These pests are easy to exclude when using row cover . beginning maggot are the larva of a tiny gray fly , so if you keep the rainfly out , you should be capable to nullify them .
However , if root maggot take hold in your white turnip , they block water ingestion , so the plant may appear wilt in all-inclusive daytime , even with plenty of soil wet . The best action is to pull the harvest and start over in another garden area using a row cover song !
Alternaria Leaf Spot
Alternaria leaf spotis a unwashed fungous disease that resembles dyed or yellow splotches on the leaf . The wound run to produce between the leaf veins and are trace with brown margin .
The easiest prevention is toavoid overhead irrigation . The disease is mostly cosmetic ( harm your enjoyment of beautiful turnip greens ) but can also hinder photosynthesis . Use drip irrigation or pelter hoses to irrigate at the base .
Black Rot
This damaging bacterial disease attacks the leaves of turnips and rutabagas , chop-chop killing the crop . The first sign is yellowing of the low leaves and V - shaped lesions along the leaf edge . Eventually , the leaf vein turn grim and begin to pass .
beginning disease - free seeds from a reputable company and immediately dispose of any septic plants .
Downy Mildew
Just like leafage spot , downy mildew tends to develop on the foliage whenever you irrigate overhead . Keep turnip greens as ironic as possible and widen your spatial arrangement in humid climatesto sustain adequate airflow . In extreme cases , you may try an organic - approvedcopper fungicideto slow the gap .
Plant Uses
All region of this flora are edible . While the roots are most favored , the Green can be saute and used like borecole in many dishes . love Tokyo turnips raw , cooked , or fermented . They are delicious when rip up into a salad or slaw or slice and eaten with hummus .
you’re able to rib them whole with potatoes , beet , and radishes . They make an incredible addition to immediate pickles or fermented kimchi blends . Best of all , ‘ Hakurei ’ turnips are a refreshing and hydrating summertime bite straight from the filth .
FAQs
All turnip leafy putting green are edible , and when harvested immature , they can be quite delectable . The green tops are best chopped up and tot at the terminal of a theme saute until slenderly wilted . Season with saltiness , olive vegetable oil , and tamari or soy sauce to add flavor . The Green get racy in hot atmospheric condition or as the crop long time .
The delicate , mild relish of ‘ Hakurei ’ white turnip differs from any Brassica rapa you ’ve ever tried ! They aresweet , frosty , and almost fruity in savor . The texture is somewhere between a crisp radish and a luscious orchard apple tree . There is little bitterness or spiciness unless you countenance the roots to get too large . Grow in coolheaded weather and harvest time at 2 - 3 ” in diam for the sweetest , most tender roots .
‘ Hakurei ’ are the only Brassica rapa you ’ll need to feed raw ! This is when they shine the most . Also known as salad turnips , these gourmet livid origin are lovesome , sweet , nippy , and refreshing . They do not need to be cookedand have a innate sweet that sets them apart from their relatives . you’re able to pop them in your mouth whole or tear up and grate them into a salad or coleslaw . They ’re also fantabulous in agitation or sautes with their greens .
Final Thoughts
These unique gastronome ancestor provide a delicious reward for very little effort!For the most successful crop of ‘ Hakurei , ’ remember to :
Do n’t forget to enjoy the nutritious William Green or utilise them as a lineament compost ingredient !
