Turnip : Rapa Bianca Lodigiana

Vegetable

• Crops in : April to October

Description

Quick maturing, flatter than round, pure white skinned and fleshed roots. Turnip Rapa Bianca Lodigiana can be forced for early crops, or sown regularly for delicious 'baby roots' for salads or stir frying. Use the tasty leaves as 'greens'.

Sowing Instructions

Turnips require rich, moisture retentive soil containing plenty of well-rotted manure or compost so the roots mature quickly and are tender and tasty. Sow seeds from June to September for quickest maturing crops. Seeds can also be sown in spring under protection. Sow thinly in drills, 12mm deep, allowing 30cm between drills.

Growing Instructions

Final plant spacing is 3cm apart for 'baby roots' or 10cm for larger roots.

Aftercare

Keep well watered during the growing period. The younger, more tender leaves are often gathered and cooked lightly as a green vegetable.

Nutritional Information

You can eat both turnip tops and roots, which are rich in fibre and Vitamin C.

Kitchen Notes

Serving suggestion - Glazed baby turnips and carrots. Wash and trim baby turnips and carrots. Steam until tender. In a pan, heat butter and sugar, add the vegetables, stir until glazed. Serve adding finely chopped Italian parsley.