Growing Cabbage as a Survival Food: A Guide to Successful Root and Shoot Development
Turnips and radishes, two versatile root vegetables, have been essential components of many diets for thousands of years. In this article, we'll explore the best practices for growing and protecting these crops, ensuring a bountiful harvest throughout the year.
The Importance of Turnips
Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder considered turnips one of the most important vegetables, and for good reason. These hardy root vegetables thrive in a wide range of conditions, making them an ideal choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.
Growing Conditions
Turnips and radishes do best in temperatures between 5-24°C. They prefer a soil pH around 6.0–6.5 and full sun exposure. Interestingly, turnips can yield a comparable harvest in a 19-liter bucket as they would in an outdoor bed, with three plants per fabric bed.
Watering and Care
Provide about 1 inch of water per week for turnips, ensuring the soil stays moist but not waterlogged. Using mulch helps retain moisture and can protect plants during heat and drought periods. Radishes require similar watering conditions.
Succession Planting and Pest Control
Succession planting for radishes promotes continuous harvests and helps avoid bolting in hot weather. Pest control involves natural and cultural practices such as crop rotation, encouraging natural predators, companion planting, and regular monitoring for early signs of infestation or disease.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid planting in heavy, compacted clay soil without amendments, as this can cause misshapen roots. Overwatering or poor drainage leads to root rot. Planting turnips and radishes in hot weather results in bitter, woody, or bolted roots. Failing to thin seedlings can result in crowding and small or forked roots.
Harvest Timing
Harvest turnips at 2-3 inches diameter before they become tough, and harvest radishes within 20-30 days to enjoy sweet and tender roots.
Unique Aspects of Radishes
Radishes, being from the same family as cabbage and broccoli, are affected by cabbage white butterflies, resulting in "cabbage worms" with a holey pattern. Cross-leaved flea beetles cause tiny holes and "jumping spots" on the leaves of radishes. Slugs and snails are particularly dangerous at the beginning of radish growth, as they can decimate small plants.
Historical Significance
Turnips have a rich history, having been domesticated around 3,500 to 6,000 years ago in the region of modern Afghanistan. In 1917, Germany experienced a "turnip winter" where this root vegetable helped people survive. Radishes are a reliable part of the garden, both on the table and for storage.
By combining good soil preparation, proper timing for planting and harvest, adequate watering, natural pest control, and crop rotation, you can successfully grow and protect turnips and radishes throughout the year with minimal problems.
Remember, every part of the turnip is edible - the root and the leaves. Turnips can be started as seedlings and transplanted, unlike many other root vegetables. Planting "trap crops" like spinach can help against aphids by drawing colonies away from the radishes and concentrating the problem in one area. Covering the radish bed with a lightweight hoop structure and protective material helps protect against pests.
With these tips in mind, you're well on your way to a successful turnip and radish harvest! Happy gardening!
[1]: Source 1 [2]: Source 2 [3]: Source 3 [4]: Source 4 [5]: Source 5
- By growing turnips and radishes in a home-and-garden setting, you're not only enhancing your home lifestyle but also ensuring a bountiful supply of these versatile root vegetables.
- Home gardening provides an opportunity to cultivate these crops using methods such as succession planting, natural pest control, and the use of fabric beds, giving you a range of gardening techniques to boost your home-and-garden lifestyle.
