All of us in childhood heard the fairy tale "Repka" and were surprised at how large this vegetable was, that it was necessary to assemble such a company to snatch it. What is this product really about? When to plant? When to harvest, and how to store turnips? Let's try to understand the article.
Turnip Properties
Turnip belongs to the Cabbage family. This is a very useful root crop, which is rich in vitamins and minerals. In cooking, this product is widely used for the preparation of salads, second and first courses. Some craftsmen can make a dessert and an alcoholic cocktail out of turnips. In medicine, this vegetable is also used. After all, it has anti-inflammatory properties, improves bowel function, increases immunity.
Steamed turnip juice soothes nerves and normalizes sleep. Various ointments and tinctures with the addition of this vegetable are also widespread, helping in the fight against joint diseases. The fruits of this plant help in losing weight, in the fight against colds and viruses. In cosmetology, turnips are used for the preparation of anti-aging, tightening and tonic masks. Plant juice improves hair condition, prevents hair loss.
In folk medicine, turnip is one of the leading places for its healing properties. Having figured out how to store turnips at home in order to preserve all its useful properties, you can provide yourself with a good supply of vitamins during the period of illness.
Even in antiquity, this root crop was the favorite food of our ancestors, which they called "second bread." After all, turnip grows fast and gives a good harvest. She could feed the whole family, as well as animals that served as a source of meat.
Sowing time
This root crop is not afraid of frost, drought, heavy rainfall. Therefore, it can be planted 2 times a year. The first sowing is in early spring. This crop diverges per season. Usually early varieties are planted in this crop. And how to store turnips, if there is nothing left from the first harvest? To do this, make the second seeding of late varieties in July. This can be done even in early autumn. The main thing is to catch the frost. Otherwise, the crop may be bitter. However, this can also be dealt with. To harvest, you need to wait for the warm weather and let the turnip stand a little.
Although the vegetable is unpretentious, all the same, for a better harvest, you should look after it, loosen the soil, weed the grass, and if necessary, sow.
Crop pests
The main problem when growing vegetables is pests. As soon as the first leaves hatch, they are immediately attacked by bugs, fleas, butterflies, aphids. They are very detrimental to the crop. It may not develop, it may turn out small and not tasty. Therefore, at the first appearance of pests, you need to start a fight. Today, there is a huge selection of remedies for fleas and other pests that do not fall into the roots and prevent the fruits from deteriorating.
Turnip Disease
How to grow a good harvest and how to maintain a turnip if diseases are attacked by a root crop. The most common vegetable diseases are fungal spores. They can affect the plant during its cultivation, as well as during its storage. Many diseases spoil the leaves of the root. They wither, become stained, deformed, the plant does not receive the necessary nutrition and lags behind in growth. In the fight against this, ashes are used. It is bred with water and sprayed on an infected plant. If this method does not help, then use specialized medicines. There are diseases that affect the fruits of the plant. In this case, it quickly dies, and here it is necessary to apply emergency treatment methods, up to the removal of the infected root, in order to preserve the rest of the crop.
How to pick fruits
Proper harvesting is one of the important aspects in the question of how to store turnips at home. If you adhere to a number of rules during the collection, you will be able to save the crop for a longer period.
When digging up turnips, sharp objects should be avoided so as not to damage the root crop. A damaged fetus will quickly begin to rot. It is not necessary to leave blocks of land on the harvested crop. It is necessary to allow the soil to dry, and then shake it off. No need to tear off the ground. This can also damage the vegetable. If a spoiled fruit has been found, then it does not need to be put in a common heap. It will begin to rot faster than other root crops and will infect the remaining fruits with mold.
Where to store vegetables
Having harvested turnips, the question arises of how to store turnips for the winter. After all, the main task is to protect the vegetable from decay. Therefore, first of all, choosing a place to store root crops, you need to take care of the dryness and good ventilation of the room. An ideal option would be a dry cellar, a balcony of the apartment. A utility room with a temperature not exceeding 3 ° C is also suitable. Wherever vegetables are stored, they should be regularly checked for spoiled ones. After all, it is worth one fruit to begin to rot, as decay spreads to other healthy root crops.
Storage of turnips in the cellar
One of the best places to store vegetables is the cellar. The question of how to store turnips in the cellar in the winter, in order to avoid its rot, is asked by all lovers of this root crop.
Choosing options for how to store turnips in the cellar, experienced gardeners advise the option of wooden crates. But do not talk about rodents. Therefore, in order to protect the fruits, at the bottom of the box you need to make a thick layer of cellophane film or sand. The storage option without wooden containers is still widely used. In this case, the fruits are stacked on shelves, without any boxes and bags, sprinkled with sand or sawdust (it is these materials that absorb moisture well). In such conditions, turnips can be stored all winter.
If the size of the cellar does not allow you to store vegetables in large containers, then the option with packages will be more suitable. Before you put the vegetables in them, you need to process each with a clay solution and let the fruits dry well. Such a protective layer will protect turnips from insects and diseases, respectively, the shelf life will be longer. In the bags you need to make holes for ventilation. Otherwise, the turnip will rot.
Whatever method is used, the main thing is not to forget about ventilation and regular checks of fruits for damage.
Home storage
Of course, having a dry, roomy cellar with good ventilation is good. But not all people live in private homes. Many live in apartments. How to store turnips at home in winter if there is no suitable room? Of course there are options. For long-term storage, a refrigerator is suitable. If turnips are washed, dried and packaged in bags, then it can be left in it for a period of not more than two weeks.
You can try to pack each fruit separately in a plastic wrap, then the shelf life will increase slightly. If there is a balcony, then it can be used to store vegetables. However, in the winter season, the temperature here can become very low, and turnips can freeze. Therefore, choosing this option of storage, it is necessary to put the fruits in a box with a warmed bottom and cover with a warm blanket. If this does not help, then you will have to transfer vegetables from the balcony to the kitchen or pantry for the cold period.
Alternative turnip storage
Also, for fans of turnip recipes, the option of storing the vegetable in the freezer is suitable. Frozen root vegetables also contain large amounts of vitamins and minerals. Of these, you can prepare dishes no worse than fresh ones. We will figure out how to store turnips in the freezer.
To maximize the useful properties of this root crop, you need to take peeled vegetables, cut into small pieces and put in boiling water for 3-4 minutes. Further, everything must be done strictly according to the instructions. Immediately from boiling water, place the chopped turnips in ice water, drain the water well, portion it in bags and place in the freezer.
One of the popular ways to store turnips is to conserve it. There are many recipes for rolling this root with the addition of other vegetables, and even fruits. Each hostess will be able to find a preservation method to their taste.
This storage method will preserve the quality of this fruit for a long time, and there is no need to select a place for storage. Banks with sunsets can be kept both in the cellar and on the balcony.