Turnip - sowing and thinning, pest control and good varieties

This biennial cultivated plant is glorified in fairy tales and epics, it has been known since the time of Tsar Pea. It was grown in the countries of the ancient world. In Russia, the turnip was first mentioned in the XII century, and for several centuries - before the conquest of the fields by potatoes - this vegetable was considered "the second bread", and a crop failure was equated with natural disaster.

However, turnip is not a very popular culture of our hundred square meters. Completely in vain! Let's get to know her again.

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REPA VARIETIES

In our climatic conditions, it is better to breed varieties of the European subspecies (Maiskaya Belaya, Kometa, Orbita, Petrovskaya 1, Snezhniy ball). Some varieties of Japanese selection are good, for example Geisha. An interesting variety is Early purple: the root crop itself is white and the skin is reddish-purple on top. It is also successfully grown in a winter greenhouse.

At the same time, the cultivation of some "exotic" varieties leads to undesirable consequences: too early flowering, the root crop does not ripen, the seeds are of poor quality.

Early ripening varieties (the names of many are taken from fairy tales - Snow White, Granddaughter, Dedka) serve as good neighbors and excellent compactors in the aisles of other crops: carrots, beets, pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers, dill, lettuce, spinach. These same crops are the best predecessors for the turnip.

Note

Repeated chlorine is contraindicated in any amount. And an excess of nitrogen or organic matter in the soil will lead to the production of root crops with a bad taste and low keeping quality.

SOWING TERMS OF REPAIRS

Early spring, around the 20th of April, sowing makes it possible to feast on the summer harvest and slightly forestall the intrigues of the earthen flea. But in order for the turnip to be well stored in autumn and winter, it should be sown before the third decade of June. Please note: from the heat, the roots become coarser, so you need to adjust to the air temperature.

SEEDING REPA

We dig a bed for seeds on two bayonets of a shovel. This depth makes the ground loose and soft, otherwise the roots will grow ugly and tasteless. The distance between plants of spring sowing is 5-7 cm in a row, of summer sowing - up to 10-12. We keep the row spacing 30-35 cm.It is impossible to deepen the seeds - the average rate is 1 cm.

Small seeds that have undergone heat treatment are usually mixed with sand before sowing, but we use an innovative technique: we cover them with crushed chalk or tooth powder, and then sift through a sieve. After that, they are clearly visible, which allows you to evenly lay them in the grooves.

We water the young bed from a watering can and cover it with non-woven material (you can mulch with sawdust or leaf humus). These measures accelerate germination.

Reference by topic: Growing turnips (photo) - the benefits of planting and care

REPAIR FEEDING

Turnip does not tolerate fresh manure (it is indicated for predecessor crops). For the autumn digging, we add "mineral water" (per 1 sq. M.): 15 g of double superphosphate and 15-20 g of potassium sulfate. Nitrogen fertilizers (15-20 g of ammonium nitrate or 10-15 g of urea) are introduced shortly before sowing. I also recommend mixtures containing boron, for example "Borofosku": they help root crops to accumulate sugars and vitamins, increase disease resistance.

We feed turnip plantings twice during the growing season using a garden watering can. The first is when the seedlings appeared. We introduce liquid Fertika Lux fertilizer. The second bait - when two real leaves appear. We use potassium sulfate, which enhances the taste and sugar content of root crops. It is better to use a watering can with a removable rain diffuser.

Note

Repeated chlorine is contraindicated in any amount. And an excess of nitrogen or organic matter in the soil will lead to the production of root crops with a bad taste and low keeping quality.

Top dressing with table salt works great when the leaves grow up to 10 cm. Consumption for a wide bed (1, 2-1, 5 m) with a length of 2, 5-3 m does not exceed 300 g. After sprinkling salt, water the plantings abundantly.

Reasonable vegetable garden. Turnip

Thinning turnip

Landings need thinning. The first time - with the emergence of seedlings (after 5-7 days), then every decade. Thinning should be done more often, if sown by the nesting method, 2-3 seeds per nest (the strongest sprout must be left), felted plants are used for food. Although the turnip gives the main marketable crop 60-70 days after germination, you can also use root crops of earlier dates (with a diameter of 4-5 cm).

AGAINST PEST

So that the earthen flea does not harm the seedlings, before loosening, we pollinate the plants with mustard or hot pepper, as well as a mixture of tobacco dust and ash.

We plant garlic near the turnip crops: it scares away such malicious pests of cabbage plants as an earthen flea, spider mite, and white beetle. If you grow dill, parsley or celery nearby, then their flowers can attract the common lacewing and other entomophages (the green lacewing, for example, successfully deals with cabbage aphids).

HARVEST

In summer, the harvest is selectively harvested. In autumn - completely, until frost. The signal for cleaning is the head raised above the bed. This means that the vegetable is ripe and easily pulled out. But also caution will not hurt (if you damage the turnips, they will not be stored). I cut off the tops at the level of the head. I store the root vegetables in the cellar, putting them in a box in rows and covering them with sand.

USES OF REPA AND RECIPES FROM IT

Root crops are rich in fiber, protein, enzymes, sugars, vitamins A, C, PP, group B, minerals such as potassium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sulfur. So, in terms of vitamin C content, turnip is almost twice as high as white cabbage, citrus fruits, raspberries and strawberries. This vegetable improves digestion, the work of the respiratory system, has a strong diuretic, as well as wound healing and antimicrobial effects. Recommended for anemia, for the prevention of seasonal infections, in the diet. There is empirical evidence that turnip juice removes stones and sand from the bladder.

Contraindications: inflammatory diseases of the stomach and intestines, hepatitis, cholecystitis.

The tops are prepared in the same way as spinach. It maintains the balance of calcium in the body, and there is even more vitamin C in it than in root crops.

Turnip roots produce a variety of salads, side dishes, main courses and desserts. Young leaves are used for okroshka, green borscht. Here are three of our favorite original recipes.

Vitamin salad

We mix thoroughly washed and grated (shredded) roots of turnip, daikon, margelan radish together with apple pieces. Season with vegetable oil and low-fat cream, add a little sugar or honey. The benefits of the turnip are already known to us, and daikon and margelan (Chinese green) radish cleanse the body of harmful substances, prevent atherosclerosis, urinary and cholelithiasis. The taste is like a radish.

Turnip stuffed with raisins and orange

Required: 4-5 medium turnips, 1 tbsp. l. softened butter (or 2 tbsp. l. melted), 2 yolks, a glass of raisins, 2-3 oranges, 2 tbsp. l. cream, sour cream - to taste.

Peel and boil the root vegetables whole. Take out the pulp with a spoon, rub it with a piece of butter, add dark raisins, orange slices, egg yolks, cream, stir. Stuff the "shells" of turnips with the resulting mixture, grease with sour cream and bake in the oven or oven. For the recipe, yellow-meat varieties (Golden ball, May yellow) are more suitable.

Turnip pudding

Required: 200 g of turnips, 100 g of granular cottage cheese and dried apricots, proteins from 2 eggs, half a glass of milk, 30 g of semolina, a little butter and honey.

Shred the peeled medium root vegetable and simmer in milk. Add semolina, chopped dried apricots, liquid honey. Stir the mass and cool. We introduce mashed cottage cheese and whipped proteins, mix again. Put in a greased form and bake for 10 minutes at 180 degrees.

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