How to grow turnips? A detailed guide to the latest planting methods
Turnip, also known as rutabaga, kohlrabi and so on, is a biennial herbaceous plant of the genus Brassica, native to Europe, and is now also widely cultivated in China. The main value of the turnip lies in its root, which can be used as a vegetable for eating and is also an excellent feed. So how do you grow turnips? Let's learn the turnip growing method together below.
1. Seedbed preparation
For the turnip seedbed, we generally choose a sandy loam soil that is loose, has a fairly deep soil layer, is convenient for drainage and irrigation, is close to a water source, and is relatively rich in fertility. We should carry out fine plowing of the seedbed, spread sufficient farmyard manure, mix it evenly with the soil in the seedbed, and make flat beds. At the same time, drainage ditches should be reserved to facilitate irrigation and drainage.
2. Sowing and raising seedlings
Turnip seedlings are generally raised by direct sowing, though drilling can of course also be used. The best time for raising seedlings is from the end of August to mid-September each year; select excellent turnip varieties for sowing and raising seedlings. When sowing, plan the amount of seed reasonably according to the area planted in the field, scatter the seeds evenly in the soil, and cover with a layer of rice straw, or covering with decomposed stable manure also gives excellent results. After the seedlings emerge, remove the rice straw and the covering material, carry out thinning reasonably, and apply a topdressing of manure and urine water once to promote the growth of the seedlings. Finally, to prevent turnip seedlings from being harmed by aphids and some leaf-eating insects during the seedling stage, generally spray Yibianjing once every week for control. At the same time, during the process of raising seedlings, water should be controlled reasonably so as not to affect the growth of the seedlings.
3. Field preparation
The selection of the field for turnips is basically similar to the conditions for choosing the seedbed, but there are still certain differences in land preparation. Field preparation for turnips does not need to be as fine as for the seedbed, and does not take as much time; generally it is enough to combine base fertilizer with deep plowing, and make beds about 1.5 m wide, open the ditches well so that they interconnect, and once everything is ready, transplanting can be carried out.
4. Transplanting and setting out
When transplanting seedlings, we should try not to damage the root system of the turnip plants, as this will affect the survival rate of the planted turnips. So when pulling up the seedlings, it is best to dig them out together with the base soil, which can avoid this situation. Then plant at a row spacing of 40 cm and a plant spacing of 35 cm, with the best planting rate of about 500 plants per mu. When planting, dig holes, spread the root system out as much as possible so as not to affect the later enlargement of the turnip tuber, and after filling the soil back, press it firm and water.
5. Field management
About half a month after setting out, apply an appropriate amount of farmyard manure and urine water as topdressing, then apply topdressing again about ten days later; this can promote the growth rate of the stems and leaves of the turnip plants. By the end of October and in November, apply urea once each as topdressing. Before topdressing, it is best to carry out intertillage and weeding, which helps the absorption of nutrients and avoids the consumption of nutrients. Also, during the growth of turnips, we need to water and drain promptly to promote the growth of the turnip tuber and to maintain the tuber's moisture and tenderness. The last thing to note is preventing the harm of pests and diseases to turnips, strengthening field management work, and using chemical control when necessary.
The above is the turnip growing method that the editor wants to share with everyone today, hoping it can help you. In fact, the growing method for turnips is very similar to the growing method for radishes. If there is anything you still do not understand, you can also refer to the radish growing method to grow turnips. Of course, if you want to learn more detailed content, you can also leave a message for the editor for consultation.