Cool Season Biennial
Turnip is a bushy upright biennial Brassica that grows quickly throughout the growing season. It has good fall frost tolerance, but poor winter hardiness. Turnip tends to have a weak tap root but a decent fibrous root system. Salinity tolerance is fair, and they are very good at scavenging nutrients in the upper part of the soil horizons. Varieties will vary with their tuber set, some will be sunken while others may be on the surface. Plants are high protein, high relative feed value, and low fibre.
Seeds per pound: 195,000 Seeds/sq ft/pound 5.4
Uses:
- Erosion control
- Soil builder
- Nitrogen scavenger
- Weed suppression
- Grazing potential
- Hay potential
Strengths:
- Quick growth.
- Palatable.
Concerns:
From the Brassica family so is susceptible to flea beetles and diseases similar to canola. Choking hazard if the bulbs get the wrong size. Requires fertile soil.
Grazing:
Good. Some varieties better than others.
Hay:
Fair.
Mycorrhizal support? No
