Editing Turnip (section)

== Cultivation ==

The 1881 American ''[[Household Cyclopedia]]'' advises that turnips can be grown in fields that have been [[Harrow (tool)|harrowed]] and ploughed. It recommends planting in late May or June and weeding and thinning with a [[Hoe (tool)|hoe]] throughout the summer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Household_Cyclopedia|title=Household Cyclopedia of 1881|year=1881|publisher=Matthew Spong}}</ref>

As a root crop, turnips grow best in cool weather; hot temperatures cause the roots to become woody and bad-tasting. They are typically planted in the spring in cold-weather climates (such as the northern US and Canada) where the growing season is only 3–4 months. In temperate climates (ones with a growing season of 5–6 months), turnips may also be planted in late summer for a second fall crop. In warm-weather climates (7 or more month growing season), they are planted in the fall. 55–60 days is the average time from planting to harvest.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Turnips are a biennial plant, taking two years from germination to reproduction. The root spends the first year growing and storing nutrients, and the second year flowers, produces seeds, and dies. The flowers of the turnip are tall and yellow, with the seeds forming in pea-like pods. In areas with less than seven-month growing seasons, temperatures are too cold for the roots to survive the winter. To produce seeds,  pulling the turnips and storing them over winter is necessary, taking care not to damage the leaves. During the spring, they may be set back in the ground to complete their lifecycle.<ref>{{cite book|title=Vegetable Gardening the Colonial Williamsburg Way|first=Wesley|last=Greene|isbn=978-1609611620|year=2012|publisher=[[Rodale, Inc.|Rodale]]|chapter=Turnip|pages=95–98|quote=Turnips are biennial plants that must pass through a winter season to form flowers and seed... In colder regions, they must be dug and stored for winter and replanted in spring.}}</ref>{{rp|98}}

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Brosen flower nn1.jpg|Turnip flowers
File:CSA-Tokyo-Turnips.jpg|A bundle of Tokyo turnips
</gallery>