Brassica rapa (Rapifera Group)
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- BRAS-ih-ka RAY-puh
- Description
-
Turnips are a root vegetable in the mustard family and are grown as an edible food crop for both their green tops and the root.They can be grown in spring or fall but are the best tasting as a fall crop.Seeds can be sown mid-summer for a fall crop.The root 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.Young leaves are great in a salad or older leaves can be sautéed.The genus name Brassica is Latin for cabbage.
Grow this plant in fertile, moist well-drained soil in full sun and water as needed to keep the soil lightly moist.They germinate quickly and mature in about 8 weeks. Turnip roots taste the best if grown in moist conditions and are picked young, before the diameter reaches 2 inches. They are also sweeter after a light fall frost or planted as a mid-summer crop.
Insufficient water, lack of fertilizer or delayed harvesting can cause the plant to become woody. The best flavor is acquired when the soil is kept moist.
Problems, Pests and Diseases:Insects that can be found include aphids, whiteflies, flea beetles, and caterpillars such as cabbage loopers, cutworms, and beet army worms.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 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:
![Brassica rapa (Rapifera Group)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Brassica_rapa_Rapife_iGjxWNVnGY9u.jpg)
![Brassica rapa (Rapifera Group)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Brassica_rapa_Rapife_Hp4kXaDwokAj.jpeg)
![Brassica rapa (Rapifera Group)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Brassica_rapa_Rapife_IjImaXLBXr5M.jpg)
![Brassica rapa (Rapifera Group)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Brassica_rapa_Rapife_77BAJsqVoABE.jpg)
![Brassica rapa (Rapifera Group)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Brassica_rapa_Rapife_8Qv5nQj1M1af.jpg)
![Brassica rapa (Rapifera Group)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Brassica_rapa_Rapife_EfvZj25YxXb3.jpg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Brassica_rapa_Rapife_ngFaEbjEOHss.jpg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Brassica_rapa_Rapife_b9FP3xY717gh.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Brassica_rapa_Rapife_P3HWQ7dRUAiy.jpg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Brassica_rapa_Rapife_aXNIA37bCjc2.jpg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Brassica_rapa_Rapife_fgibhcffm2JK.jpg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Brassica_rapa_Rapife_Ll7wBuuiXGQS.jpg)
- 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:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
-
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Cultural Conditions:
- 光明:
- 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
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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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
- 花型:
- 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
- 树叶形状:
- 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