Talking turnip

If Baldrick had 1000 pounds, he’d buy a little turnip of his own; if he had a million pounds that would be completely di erent (so the weird little fellow from TV’s Blackadder confirms) and he’d buy a great big turnip in the country.

Either way – large or small, grown in town or country – turnips are often overlooked by gardeners in New Zealand. And yet, these brassicas are nutritious, versatile and easy to grow. Often cultivated to feed livestock –making them a must for lifestylers –the most common variety, the white turnip, is a useful ingredient in meals made for people too.

Turnips can be planted from spring until autumn. However, as maturing plants respond well to cooler weather, with the roots accumulating sugars when temperatures dip, autumn is an ideal time in northern New Zealand. What’s more, because they feast on nitrogen, they make an excellent follow-up crop to potatoes or onions.

While turnips use space otherwise left fallow during winter and require little care, seeds can be sown throughout their lengthy season to ensure an ongoing supply. Seeds should be sown roughly 10-20cms apart, to a depth approximately three times their diameter. Add a little fertiliser, water in and be sure to keep the ground moist until they germinate.

After some thinning, weeding and watering (if growing during warmer months), the main roots should be ready within 6-10 weeks or so. In addition, turnip greens (their shoots) are edible as well, although picking too much o the top can lead to less developing down below!

Similar in flavour to mustard greens, turnip greens can be used in comparable ways. The roots can be peeled then grated for salads. They can also be diced and roasted or used to add body to stews and casseroles. Because younger turnips tend to be a little sweeter, they’re ideal for salads, whereas older turnips are best saved for the pot. Diced or grated, turnips can be frozen for later use.

As for Baldrick, he’d likely prefer to serve us his famed ‘turnip surprise’ with the surprise being the inclusion of… a turnip!