How To Grow Turnip At Home From seeds

Turnip

Botanical Name : Brassica campestris var. rapa

Family : Brassicaccac/Cruciferac

Chromosome No. : 2n = 20

Turnip occupies a prominent place among root crops. In India, it is mainly grown in Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Tamil Nadu. It is grown in fields and home gardens either alone or as a mixed crop. Apart from vegetables, it is also used as animal fodder. In some areas, pickles are also made from it. Turnip is the earliest and the highest yielding crop among root vegetables.

History and Origin - There is a lot of disagreement among scientists about the place of origin of turnip. Some scientists consider it to be Central and Western China and some consider it to be Central Asia, Punjab and Kashmir or Mediterranean Region. It has been cultivated in Egypt since ancient times. Turnip is found in Russia and Siberia as a wild plant. Cultivation of turnip in England and America started in 1590 AD and 1606 AD respectively. There is no evidence available as to when its cultivation started in India.

Nutritive value - Turnip is eaten raw, as salad and vegetable. Its pickle is also made. Nutritive substances are found in sufficient quantity in turnip. The food value of turnip is shown in the table-

(Nutrition Value of Turnip per 100 gm)

Moisture : 91.6 g

Protein : 0.5 g

Fat : 0.2 g

Minerals : 0.6 g

Fiber : 0.9 g

Other Carbohydrates : 6.2 g

Calcium : 30.0 mg

Phosphorus : 40.00 mg

Thiamine : 0.04 mg

Iron : 0.40 mg

Riboflavin : 0.24 mg

Nicotinic Acid : 0.05 mg

(in green leaves) : 5.40 mg

Vitamin C : 43.00 mg

(in green leaves) : 180.00 mg

Vitamin A : None

(in green leaves) : 1566.9 IU

Calories : 29

Varieties - Turnip varieties are divided into two groups namely Asian and European. Asian varieties tolerate high heat and are pungent in taste, while European varieties are unable to tolerate high heat and are less pungent in taste. The main varieties of both the groups are mentioned below-

1. Asiatic or Tropical Type

Pusa Kanchan - This is a hybrid variety which has been developed by cross breeding of tropical and temperate varieties. It has the characteristics of both the varieties. Its roots are like the local red round. The peel is red, the pulp is creamy yellow, which has an excellent aroma and taste. This variety is suitable for sowing in September-October in the plains. Its seeds can be prepared easily in the plains.

Pusa Sweta - This is a variety which gets ready in 40-50 days. Its roots are white, round and flat, whose pulp is white, crispy and slightly spicy with fine grains. This variety is suitable for sowing in the plains from August to October. This variety is ready in 40-50 days.

Punjab White - This is an early variety. Its roots are white and round. It gives 200 quintals of yield per hectare.

Turnip N 1 - This variety is ready in 30-45 days. Its roots are white, round, smooth and have a thin tail. Its roots have less fibers, which are sweet, crispy and have a mild smell. It gives 350 quintals of yield per hectare.

2. European or Temperate Type

Golden Hair - This variety is ready in 70-75 days. Its roots are globe shaped, medium, smooth, shiny and creamy yellow in colour. The upper part of the plant is small, erect and has serrated leaves. This variety is suitable for sowing in plain areas from October to December. It gives 250 quintals of yield per hectare.

Pirpil Top White Globe - This variety is ready in 60-65 days. It is a suitable variety for growing in the plains of temperate regions. Its pulp is white and sweet. Its roots are almost round. The upper part of which is purple and the lower part is white with a light yellow tinge. It is a suitable variety for sowing in plain areas from October to December. It gives 250-300 quintals of yield per hectare.

Snowball - This is an early variety which is ready in about 60-65 days. The roots are medium sized, round, smooth, with white peel and pulp. This variety is suitable for growing in the plains from October to December.

Early Milan Redtop -This is a very early variety which gets ready in just 45 days after sowing. This is a high yielding variety.

Pusa Chandrima - This is a hybrid variety. Which gets ready in 55-60 days. Its roots are big, round, white and smooth. The pulp is white, soft and sweet. This variety can be grown in the plains from October to December. It gives 400 quintals of yield per hectare.

Pusa Swarnima -This variety gets ready in 65-70 days. Its roots are round, smooth and light yellow in colour. The pulp is light wheatish in colour. Its pulp is sweet and soft, which is tasty to eat. This is a suitable variety for growing in the hilly areas from June to October. This is a suitable variety for growing in the plains from October to December.

Climate - Turnip is a cool climate crop. It gives higher yield in cool and humid climate. It tolerates frost to a great extent. Asian varieties tolerate higher temperature than European varieties. Most varieties grow well between 10-15 degrees Celsius. Yield is adversely affected when temperature increases. This is because there is a shortage of water in the roots of turnip. In such a situation, the roots become hard and sharp.

Soil - Although turnip can be grown in different types of soil, but for good yield, deep, friable, organic-rich fertile loam and some sandy loam are the best. It can be grown in light sandy soil. Extremely sandy or extremely heavy soil is considered an obstacle in its successful production.

Land preparation - Land preparation is of special importance for getting higher yield of turnip. Do the first ploughing with a soil turning plough. After this, plough the field 2-3 times with a harrow or cultivator. Be sure to level the field with every ploughing.

Manure and Fertilizers - The amount of manure and fertilizers in turnip crop depends on the climatic fertility conditions, pH level and soil texture. Applying manure and fertilizers in the soil at the right time is as important as their quantity. Different quantities of NPK are recommended for different agro-climatic zones of India. 20-25 tonnes of cow dung manure, 70-100 kg nitrogen, 50 kg phosphorus and 50 kg potash are recommended per hectare. Cow dung manure is applied before the first ploughing. A mixture of half the quantity of phosphorus, potash and nitrogen should be applied at the time of final ploughing. Fertilizers should be applied at a depth of 7-8 cm. The remaining nitrogen should be divided into two parts. Apply the first time when the formation of roots starts. Apply the second time when the growth of roots starts. Among the micronutrients, turnip crop requires boron, calcium and molybdenum. Hence, these should also be used.

Sowing

seed rate - 3-4 kg of seeds per hectare is sufficient.

Seed treatment - To protect the seeds from fungal diseases, treat them with Agrosan GN (25 gm medicine/kg seed) and then sow.

Time of sowing - Sowing of turnip depends on the variety grown. Asian varieties are sown from March to May, whereas European varieties are sown from September to December. In mountainous areas, turnip is sown from March to May.

Method of sowing - Turnip is sown in flat beds and on baskets. Seeds are sown in rows and rows at a distance of 30 cm, while the distance between seeds is kept 5-7 cm. Seeds should not be sown more than 1.5 cm deep.

Seeds germinate in 4-6 days. About 90-95% seeds germinate.

Irrigation and water drainage

The irrigation requirement of turnip is similar to that of radish. According to the weather, it should be irrigated at an interval of 8-15 days. If there is a lack of moisture in the soil, then there is a huge reduction in the yield. Therefore, irrigation should be done as per requirement.

If more water than required accumulates in the turnip crop, then make arrangements to drain it immediately, otherwise the plants turn yellow and die.

Crop protection

Weed control

Weeding should be done 2-3 times to keep the crop free from weeds and to conserve moisture. Soil should be added at the time of second or third weeding.

Spraying 2 kg of Tok-E-25 (Nitrofen) before germination prevents weeds.

Pest control

Champa (Aphid) - Nymphs of this insect suck the juice of tender parts of the plant due to which photosynthesis is hindered.

To control this insect, spray 0.05% phosphamidon.

Cabbage maggot - This insect attacks the roots due to which the plant dries up.

To control this insect, spray an insecticide called Calomel or put an insecticide called Aldrin in the field along with irrigation water.

How To Grow Turnip At Home From seeds

Disease control

Club rot - This is a fungus borne disease. Due to which the mugdar rots.

The following measures should be taken to control this disease-

- Do not grow turnip crop in the field where Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) family crops have been grown. - Adopt long term crop rotation.

White rust - This disease is caused by a fungus called 'Albugo Candida'. White or cream coloured pustules are formed on the leaves, which later combine and turn into irregular shaped spots. A white powdery substance is visible on the lower surface of the leaves. The shape of the flower buds becomes like a broom.

To control this disease, spray 0.8% Bordeaux mixture.

Harvesting - When the roots of turnip become 5.0-7.5 cm in diameter, then they should be dug out because if dug out late, the turnip tubers become hard and fibrous. Digging should usually be done in the evening.

Yield - The yield of turnip depends on many things, among which the fertility of the soil, the variety grown, the method of growing and care are important. Yield of 300-400 quintals per hectare can be easily obtained.

Seed production - Seeds of Asian varieties are prepared in the plains, while seeds of European varieties are prepared in the mountainous regions. Hybridization of turnip is easily done with mustard crops. Hence, in seed production of turnip, isolation from mustard has to be maintained. It is absolutely necessary to maintain isolation of 1500 meters for foundation seeds and 1000 meters for certified seeds.

For seed production, turnip roots should be planted at the end of November or beginning of December. Roots are planted at a distance of 60 x 40 cm. 1/3 part of the roots is cut before planting. Seed is ready in March-April. In the plains, the yield can be 500-600 kg per hectare depending upon the variety, but in Katrain (Kullu Valley), a yield of 1219 kg seed from Snowwall variety has been recorded.