8 Types of Turnips – An Overview (with Pictures)

Turnips are delightful root vegetables that belong to the cruciferous family. There are over 30 types of turnips, and these vary in shade, flavor, dimensions, and usage. Although purple-top turnips are the most frequent, other options are available in local nurseries.

Are you searching to increase the range of turnips in your kitchen backyard garden? Listed here is a thorough overview of eight sorts of turnips that are flavorsome and simple to grow.

The 8 Types of Turnips

1. Purple-Top Turnips

Purple-Top Turnips
Image Credit: julie deshaies, Shutterstock
Globe Color: white with purple top
Size: 4 to 6 inches diameter
Flavor: Spicy
Peak Season: Spring and fall

The purple-prime is possibly the most frequent kind of turnip. It is a fast-expanding root vegetable that matures in 55 times on regular right after planting. It develops a purple crown with uncovered easy, spherical globes. Each the leaves and roots are protein-packed and nutritious, and you can use them to get ready a spicy-flavored stew.


2. Baby Bunch Turnips

Baby Bunch Turnips
Image Credit: ivabalk, Pixabay
Globe Color: creamy white
Size: 1 to 2 inches diameter
Flavor: Earthy, sweet, peppery
Peak Season: October through March

Child bunch turnips are much smaller sized, with the creamy white globes achieving 1–2 inches in diameter. When peeled, the bulbous roots have succulent and crunchy bone-white interiors with an attractive earthy, sweet, and peppery taste. With this turnip, nothing at all goes to squander because the leaves and stems can be used to make tasty salads.


3. Tokyo Cross Turnips

Tokyo Cross Turnips
Image Credit: Renee_Olmsted_Photography, Pixabay
Globe Color: White
Size: 2 to 6 inches diameter
Flavor: Mild, sweet
Peak Season: Spring to fall

The Tokyo cross turnip is a quickly-increasing hybrid turnip that matures about forty times from planting. It develops white globes that can be harvested when two inches in diameter for salads or 6 inches for steamed or roasted recipes. As opposed to most turnips, the Tokyo cross globes have a mild, sweet flavor. The leaves of the plant are edible and can be steamed to make a fast, effortless, and delicious side dish.


4. Scarlet Queen Turnips

Scarlet Queen Turnip
Image Credit: jackmac34, Pixabay
Globe Color: Red or magenta
Size: 2 to 4 inches diameter
Flavor: Mild, sweet
Peak Season: Early spring through late summer

The Scarlet Queen turnip has lovely pink or magenta pores and skin and a spicy taste. Nevertheless, the globes have white flesh with a moderate, sweet, and crisp flavor. The plant’s stem and darkish eco-friendly leaves are also edible and can be employed to make evenly cooked salads. It takes about 45 days for the turnip to mature and the bulbous roots to get to two to 4 inches in diameter.


5. Gold Ball Turnip

Gold Ball Turnip
Image Credit: drivedesptitsbocaux, Pixabay
Globe Color: Golden-yellow
Size: 3 to 4 inches diameter
Flavor: Mild, sweet with an almond aftertaste
Harvest Season: Spring and fall

The gold ball turnip has golden-yellow pores and skin and flesh. Although it is a gorgeous root vegetable, it is best known for its taste. The turnip is gentle, sweet, and mellow with an almond aftertaste. It can be eaten uncooked or cooked to make stews and soups. It will take forty five to 65 days to mature, and the world can expand among a few and four inches in diameter.


6. White Turnip (White Lady)

White Turnip
Image Credit: Hans, Pixabay
Globe Color: White
Size: 3 to 5 inches diameter
Flavor: Crisp, sweet
Harvest Season: Spring and fall

The white turnip, also known as the white girl turnip, matures in thirty to 35 times. It has clean, white, globe-formed roots that can be harvested at three inches in diameter for the very best high quality stews or at 5 inches. Whilst the globes are crisp and sweet, most men and women really like the turnip for its healthy greens.


7. Red Round Turnip

Red Round Turnip
Image Credit: Couleur, Pixabay
Globe Color: Red
Size: 3 to 4 inches diameter
Flavor: Mild, sweet
Harvest Season: Spring and fall

The pink round is a unusual standard Japanese turnip with purple-skinned semi-globed roots and red stems. Although its leaves are eco-friendly, they also have attractive pink veins. The purple round turnip is quick-growing and matures in 45 to fifty times. Its delightful, sweet flavored, and stunning white flesh with purple streaking make it superb for making pickles or serving as a side dish to your sushi.


8. Just Right Turnip

Just Right Turnip
Image Credit: stux, Pixabay
Globe Color: Pure white
Size: 5 to 6 inches diameter
Flavor: Mild, sweet
Harvest Season: Fall to winter

Just Right turnips are fairly gradual-increasing and can get up to 70 days to experienced. They have large, easy semi-globe roots ranging between 5 and six inches. This is one particular of the uncommon turnip hybrids with late pithiness, meaning it maintains excellent flavor even when harvested in massive measurement.

FAQs

Turnips have been cultivated for 1000's of several years and are a staple in the diets of different cultures. Even though these root veggies originated in middle and japanese Asia, they are developed throughout the world, especially in locations with average temperatures. Right here are answers to some regularly requested concerns about turnips.

Do Turnips Have Nutritional Value?

Turnips are highly wholesome, body fat-free of charge greens with reduced calories. They are rich in vitamin K, vitamin C, nutritional fiber, and antioxidants. While you can prepare dinner turnips and provide them as a side dish, they are a lot more healthy when loved uncooked.

How Do I Grow Turnips?

Most turnip varieties are hardy crops. They are rapidly-increasing and take among 40 and 45 days on average to experienced. Even though most prosper when planted between April and August, it is critical to notice the excellent time for harvesting. Only a number of turnip varieties like Just Right turnips keep superb flavor and texture when allowed to develop previous the suggested harvesting mark.

How Do I Store Turnips After Harvesting?

Turnips are ideal when eaten fresh, despite the fact that you can also refrigerate them for up to 3 weeks. If you want to store them for longer (three to 12 months), peel the globes and chop them into smaller sized items. You then require to steam, prepare dinner and mash or roast them ahead of storing them in a freezer bag.

Final Thoughts

Turnips are well-known vegetables in contemporary kitchen area gardens. They have versatile programs and can be incorporated into various recipes. Aside from sautéing, baking, or roasting turnips, you can try to eat them uncooked.

Although there are various types of this root vegetable, some are much more beneficial than other individuals, based on the recipes and dishes you goal to put together. Until you have a zealous or refined fascination in checking out new foods and flavors, it is far better to adhere to effectively-acknowledged turnip varieties.


Showcased Picture Credit score: congerdesign, Pixabay

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