TURNIPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 October 1939, Page 3

TURNIPS

HIGHLY APPRECIATED CROP.

The turnip is a native of Britain and other European countries, and when well grown and young is a highly appreciated root crop. In its cultivation it is most important that its growth should be quick and healthy, and then there is no suspicion of that strong. rank, almost bitter, taste and string!-i ness characteristic of roots which are slow in developing. To maintain supplies it is necessary to make frequent sowings, a little at a time, and to select varieties suitable for the season. Foi an early crop which can be sown now on a warm, sunny border sow Early Snowball or Early White Milan, for the summer and autumn sow Golden Ball or Orange Jelly, and for winter and early spring Laing’s Garden Swede, or Purple-top Swede. For the early crops sow in drills 12 inches apart, dust the seed rows with superphosphate and lime, and protect the youngseedlings from birds, which are very found of them. The seedlings should be thinned as soon as they are large enough to handle, but not very severely from three to four inches will do, for the roots can be used as’ ® they are any size at all, and the thn ning done when they are fit for use. The Golden Ball or Orange Jolly varieties can be sown m about a month’s time, but as they areJ than the early varieties they ar thinned out to from six to nine inches apart. Sowings should be made at from three to four week intervals, until the autumn, to maintain regul supplies of young tender roots. The garden swedes take lon to ei t develop and a sowing should be macle in December or early January and tl seedlings are thinned out to fromi si. to nine inches apart as soon as they are large enough to handle. Turnip are very partial to wood ashes, and a light dusting once a fortnight, lightly hoed in will assist in their growth-.