With our hot, dry summers, turnips can only be raised satisfactorily
as a fall crop. They can be grown as a second crop, after early sweet
corn, potatoes or peas, and should be sown as soon as possible after
the first of August. The ground should be plowed or run over two or
three times with the cultivator, and then harrowed till it is as fine
as it is possible to make it. If the seed is sown broadcast, some
winter radish seed should be mixed and sown with it. The ground should
be rolled after sowing, not only to compact the soil round the seeds,
which is essential to good germination, but also to prevent washing by
the September rains, if the ground is at all sloping. But where the
finest turnips and a sure crop are desired, it is much better to sow
our garden turnips in drills, one foot apart if you have a wheel hoe,
or as narrow as you can cultivate, if you have not. This will tend to
having the roots of even size, and the finest appearance, as they can
be frequently worked. When about three inches high, or when beginning
to form bulbs, they should be thinned out to four or five inches apart
in the rows, with the narrow hoe, leaving each bulb to stand by itself.
It will be found that by this method, with careful culture, a larger as
well as a much finer crop can be raised on the same ground than if they
were sown broadcast, and that not half as much seed need be used, as it
is carefully planted just where it is to grow.
[Illustration:
Illustration showing manner of storing turnips, beets, carrots,
etc., in the garden for winter use. S, straw covering and
ventilating chimney; D, covering of soil over the straw.]
About the third week in November, or before there is danger of the
ground becoming hard, the turnips should be pulled and the tops cut
off; take enough in the cellar for immediate use, and store the rest in
heaps. Select a well-drained piece of ground, as directed for burying
cabbages; it will be most convenient to have them near together; spread
about two inches of straw on the ground, and heap the turnips upon it
in the shape of a cone, not more than ten or fifteen bushels in a heap;
cover this with straw, an inch or two thick, and bind it together at
the top, and let it stick up a foot or so above the top of the cone;
then cover the heap with four to six inches of soil, all but the straw
top to the cone, which acts as a chimney or ventilator; the roots can
thus be kept in good order throughout the winter. The surplus beets and
carrots can be put in with the turnips, and the whole can be gotten at,
any day when the temperature is above freezing, by making a hole in one
side of the heap, taking out what you want, and carefully closing the
opening again. The straw bottom and sides are not absolutely necessary,
but are a great improvement and convenience, and will preserve the
roots in a much cleaner and finer condition; the straw not only helping
to keep out the frost, but at the same time providing ventilation for
the heap.