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Varieties
Greens: All Top, Purple Top
Roots: Royal Globe, White Lady
Roots and Greens: Hakurei, Just Right, Purple Top White Globe, Shogoin, Tokyo Cross
Soil Preferences
Deep, friable, sandy loam with pH 5.5 - 7.5. Will tolerate wide range of soil types with proper management. Avoid excessively heavy soils, which can cause root malformation.
Optimum Growing Conditions
Cool season crop with tolerance to frost and light freezes. Temperatures above 75°F for prolonged periods can depress growth and reduce quality.
Establishment Methods
| Planting Method | Direct seeded |
|---|---|
| Optimum Time | Spring - seed zone temperature > 40°F Fall - seed zone temperature < 105°F |
| Seeding rate | 1-2 lbs/acre |
| Approx seed/oz | 15,000 |
| Seeding depth | 0.25 - 0.5" |
| Seedling spacing | Double plant rows on 38-40" wide raised beds with 2-4" in-row spacing |
Fertility/Fertilization
Rates presented as actual lbs/acre N2, P2o5, and K2o (base actual rates applied on soil test results).| Generalized rate: 50 - 70 - 100 lb/acre | |
| N* | 35-80 lbs 25-40 lbs pre-plant 10-40 lbs side-dressed 25 days after planting |
|---|---|
| P | 50-120 lbs banded 2" below seed at planting |
| K | 70-120 lbs applied pre-plant with N (normally not required in most areas of Texas) |
Water/Irrigation
10-15" uniformly available throughout growing season.Pest Management
Turnip Diseases and Common Name of Fungicidal Controls
| DISEASE | FUNGICIDE* | OMRI LISTED FUNGICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Downy mildew | copper sulfate, dimethomorph, mefenoxam, potassium phosphite, | Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, neem oil, potassium bicarbonate, streptomyces lydicus, |
| Leaf spots | neem oil | |
| Nematode | 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, metam-potassium, metam-sodium, sesame oil, | azadirachtin, |
Turnip Insect Pests and Common Name of Insecticidal Controls
| INSECT | INSECTICIDE* | OMRI LISTED INSECTICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Aphid | Bifenthrin, Dimethoate, Imidacloprid, Malathion, Permethrin, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, neem oil, Peppermint and rosemary oil, Pyrethrins |
| Armyworm | Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Cyfluthrin, Esfenvalerate, Spinetoram, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, Pyrethrins, Spinosad |
| Cabbage Looper | Beta-cyfluthrin, Cyfluthrin, Emamectin benzoate, Indoxacarb, Malathion, Methomyl, Methoxyfenozide, Permethrin, Spinetoram, Tebufenozide, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, Pyrethrins, Spinosad |
| Flea Beetle | Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Esfenvalerate, Imidacloprid, Zeta-cypermethrin, | Azadirachtin, Kaolin, Pyrethrins |
| Mites | Azadirachtin, neem oil, Pyrethrins, |
Weeds and Common Name of Herbicidal Controls
| WEED | HERBICIDE* | OMRI LISTED HERBICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Preplant incorporated | Metam-potassium, Metam-sodium | Corn gluten meal |
| Preemergence (prior to spear emergence) | DCPA, oxyfluorfen, Pelargonic acid | |
| Postemergence | Carfentrazone-ethyl, clethodim, clopyralid, Glyphosate, paraquat dichloride, Pyraflufen ethyl, sethoxydim | cinnamon and clove oil, clove oil, d-limonene |
* The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Ensure that products with one of the listed active ingredients is registered for the crop it is to be used on. Failure to do the above may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
** As stated in §205.206 of the National Organic Standards, pest management decisions should follow a hierarchical approach, which should be defined in a farm's organic systems plan. Please ensure that you have followed the appropriate steps and any product to be used in certified organic production systems has been approved by your certifying agent.
Harvest
| Days after planting | 40-60 days |
|---|---|
| Normal method | Hand or machine |
| Containers | Bushel baskets or bulk (machine harvest) |
| Grades | Grading of Roots dependent on defects, uniformity roots, and diameter > 1.75" U.S. #1 U.S. #2 |
| Packaging/Handling | Greens Fresh market - bunched, 24 lb cartons holding 24 1 lb film bags Processing - bulk sold by ton Roots Topped roots -
|
| Anticipated yield/acre | GreensFresh market - 500 cartons Processing - 5-6 tons Roots - 3-4 tons/acre |
Transit Conditions
32°F at 95% RH; shelf-life 4-5 months.Comments/Production Keys
- Temperatures near freezing 3-4 weeks prior to harvest increases quality
- Temperature above 75°F during the above time frame decreases yield and quality
- Refrigerate harvested leaves as soon as possible to prevent loss of quality
- Place in high humidity conditions to prevent shriveling