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Brassica rapa var. rapa

May turnip

Common names: Navette turnip, food turnip

May turnip

This description was machine-translated.

Description

The May turnip is a delicate, fast-growing spring turnip with a mild, slightly sweet taste, ready for harvest within a few weeks. It tastes best when young and small, raw in salads as well as lightly steamed. A proven variety is the red-white 'Teltower Rübchen' for aromatic winter dishes.

Care instructions

Sow thinly directly into the bed from March to April and keep the soil evenly moist so that the tubers remain tender. Separate early to about finger width, because turnips that are too close together stay small. Harvest after six to eight weeks while the tubers are young and at most golf-ball sized; otherwise they become woody and sharp.

Soil & site

Soil pH

4.0pH 6.5–7.58.0

Soil type

sandy, loamy, humus-rich, well-drained

LightFull sun
HardinessFrost-sensitive
Crop rotationBrassicas
Water needMedium

Feeding

Light feeder

Companion planting

Good neighbors

legume family (Fabaceae)

particularly well established

Leguminous plants collect nitrogen in the soil, from which Brassicaceae benefit as heavy feeders.

For example Bush beanPole beanBroad beanMarker peaSugar peaRed bean and 30 more species in the catalogue

Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)

carrot family (Apiaceae)

You can pair celery and dill with all Brassicaceae because they repel the cabbage whitefly with their scent, a proven companion.

For example Carrotcelery rootDillParsleyCarrot fennelCoriander and 19 more species in the catalogue

Source: Bio-Gärtnerei Mixed-culture Practice

mint family (Lamiaceae)

You will notice that the intense scent of basil, thyme, and others confuses the cabbage whitefly and keeps it away from the cabbage family.

For example LavenderThymeBasilRosemarySageHyssop and 31 more species in the catalogue

Source: bio-gardening intercropping practice

nasturtium family (Tropaeolaceae)

Nasturtium serves as a trap plant for you. Aphids and cabbage whiteflies prefer it over the brassicaceae next to it.

For example Tropaeolum majusMashua

Source: Trap plant practice in organic horticulture

Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.

Some of these explanations were machine-translated.

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