Several important factors influence the planting time of a turnip. First of all, the ultimate goal of using the root crop plays a role.
Spring sowing is carried out to obtain an early ripe harvest, the fruits of which are mainly used in salads and snacks. The average growth period of such varieties is 45-50 days, and the time of placement on the beds falls on the end of April - the beginning of May. In the summer, planted turnip species are intended for harvesting for long-term storage. For this, varieties of medium and late ripeness are suitable. Sowing is carried out in this case on the border of June and July. In autumn, winter hybrids are planted, which provide an early spring harvest. The final sowing occurs at the end of October - beginning of November.
The next influencing factor I will name the varietal characteristics of each type of turnip. First of all, they pay attention to geographical parameters, climatic preferences and adaptive qualities. There is an unspoken rule - the more early the variety is, the earlier it is planted in the beds.
The third significant point in the issue of sowing turnips is the geographical and climatic features of the site:
- the southern regions allow you to start the procedure already in early April;
- in conditions of temperate latitudes, the soil has time to warm up sufficiently by the end of April - beginning of May;
- in the northern regions, sowing activities must be postponed to mid-June, when the threat of severe frosts has passed.
I note the fact that despite the good indicators of stability and unpretentiousness to the conditions of external environment, it is possible to form strong large and tasty turnip fruits only if favorable circumstances.
Additional measures
Also, in addition to the exact timing, it is necessary to pay attention to some important details of the process itself.
When choosing seeds, I advise you to pay attention to the taste of future root crops - some types of turnips are notable for their noticeable sharpness, which not everyone likes.
Experienced gardeners have identified several of the most effective and rated varieties:
- early (up to 60 days) - Snowball, Geisha;
- medium (up to 80 days) - White ball, Comet;
- late (up to 100 days) - Nurse, Orbit.
The seeds themselves should be pre-disinfected and soaked in stimulants. When choosing the necessary soil, it should be borne in mind that turnips need excellent drainage and neutral acidity. To achieve the best result, a couple of weeks before sowing, the beds are dug up, fertilized with organic additives and covered for 14 days with agro-fiber or polyethylene.
With a direct sowing process, small seeds can be mixed with clean coarse sand - this will make it easier to work with small grains.
Watering is carried out manually using a watering can with a fine sieve. Water must be taken warm and settled. There should be enough water: for turnips during the period of active growth, I recommend watering every three days with an average fluid consumption per 1 sq.m. - 30 liters. As the shoots grow, you can replace the manual inventory with a hose with a fine spray.
Compliance with all the rules of competent sowing can significantly affect the total amount of the crop. With the proper approach, from 1 square meter of the garden it will be possible to collect up to 4 kg of selected fruits. The size of root crops varies depending on the variety and type of ripening - from 5 to 8 cm in diameter.
Growing turnips is not considered a particularly difficult process. This vegetable is recommended for planting to beginner gardeners, as the minimum criteria allow you to get a good harvest of healthy and tasty root crops.
And how do you feel about turnips and do you plant them?
Read also: Pepper Tsitsak: cultivation and taste qualities of the variety
Another related article: How to properly water peppers in a greenhouse
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