Turnip

September 2012

I need to know when to plant my turnip and collard greens for fall?

Now is a great time to plant fall vegetables. We have finally gotten some good rain, and our gardens should take off and give us a wonderful fall harvest. While we grow turnips and collards by seed, vegetable transplants for broccoli, cabbage and other cool season vegetables have arrived at garden centers.

January 2012

I have had a small backyard garden (20x50 foot) for many years. I put compost and fertilizer(10-20-10) on it every year. This last spring I put on some well composted chicken manure and tilled it into the soil. I rotate the crops around in this space, so as not to plant the same crop in the same space 2 years in a row. BUT, In the last 2 years, I have not been able to grow any radishes, turnips or similar root crops, all they produce is green tops. What can I put into the soil to cure this problem? 

I assume you have ample sunlight, because all vegetables need a minimum of 6-8 hours of sunlight to produce. I think possibly the soil is too rich, putting loads of nitrogen into the foliage, and not forming the roots. Try mixing some coarse sand into the planting area, and using a 10-20-10 fertilizer. Make sure you plant in the cool season (before April 15) and thin the seedlings to give them ample room to grow, and see what happens this year.

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