| Rutabaga and Turnip |
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Rutabagas are commonly known as table turnips or swedes. They have longer necks; the leaves have more bloom and are bluish in color; and they require about one month longer to develop than turnips. In northern New England, rutabagas are much more popular than turnips. If planted early in the spring, rutabaga will be of poor quality (woody and tough). For best quality, plant from mid-June to mid-July in northern to southern New England, respectively, so that harvest occurs in the cool weather of fall after a few light frosts. VarietiesRUTABAGA
TURNIP
Spacing and SeedingRutabaga: Seed to 4” to 8” within rows and 30” between rows 1/2” deep. This requires 1 1/2 to 2 lb of seed per acre (about 1/4 oz per 100 feet of row). LimeApply lime according to soil test results to maintain soil pH at 6.5 to 6.8. FertilizerTurnips following other vegetables in the same season may not require the application of additional fertilizer as turnips are an efficient scavenger of residual nutrients. Harvesting and StorageMature turnips are harvested when the roots are about 2” in diameter. For highest quality, rutabagas should be harvested when they are 3” to 5” in diameter at the top end and weigh 2 to 3 lb. Rutabagas and turnips can be stored for long periods at 32°F and at a relative humidity of 90% to 95%. Chilling improves the flavor of rutabagas by aiding the conversion of starch to sugar, reducing strong or bitter flavor. Weed ControlNOTE: For the herbicides listed below, one product trade name and formulation is provided for each active ingredient (common name) as an example of rates, days to harvest (dh), REI, and special instructions. In many cases there are other products available with the same active ingredient. Please see Table 17 and Alphabetical Listing by Trade Name for more information on products with the same active ingredients. Stale Seedbedparaquat (Gramoxone Inteon* 2S): 2.0 to 4.0 pt/A (REI 12h, Group 22). See Stale Seedbed Technique. Preemergence (Turnips only)DCPA (Dacthal W75): 10 lb/A (REI 24h, Group 3). Apply to weed-free soil just after seeding. Postemergencepelargonic acid (Scythe 4.2): 3% to 10% (REI 24h, Group 27). Use a 3-5% solution for annual weeds (4-6 oz/gal water), a 5-7% solution for biennial and perennial weeds (6-9 oz/gal water), and 7-10% solution for maximum burndown (9-13 oz/gal water). Delivery rate for boom applications should be 75 to 200 gal spray solution/A; complete coverage of weed foliage is essential. Use a DIRECTED/SHIELDED SPRAY; contact with crop will cause injury. For hand-held equipment, spray to completely wet all weed foliage but not to the point of runoff. Repeat applications as necessary. Tank mixes are allowed with this product. These include tank mixes with glyphosate (Roundup), sulfosate (Touchdown), and residual herbicides. See label for complete details.
Insect ControlNonchemical control: Flea beetles, leafminers and the cabbage maggot can be controlled in spring crops with spunbonded row covers. Cover at seeding and seal the edges with soil to exclude the cabbage maggot fly, which lays eggs at the base of the young turnip or rutabaga seedlings. Rotate fields so that flies do not emerge under row covers. Row covers are most effective for spring crops. Row cover used to protect fall turnips and rutabegas from cabbage maggot during August and early September may cause reduced yield and root quality. Aphids are generally kept below damaging levels by natural enemies. If using row cover, do not place over crops with aphids present as the cover will exclude natural enemies and cause outbreaks of aphids under the cover. NOTE: For the insecticides listed below, one product trade name and formulation is provided for each active ingredient (common name) as an example of rates, days to harvest (dh), REI, and special instructions. In many cases there are other products available with the same active ingredient. Please see Table 20 and Alphabetical Listing by Trade Name for more information on products with the same active ingredients. Aphids and LeafminersLeafminers generally are controlled by natural enemies unless disrupted by broad-spectrum insecticide applications. Some species may be transported on transplants from southern or western locations. Control broadleaf weeds in and around the planting. Rotate insecticide groups to slow resistance. Systemic insecticides may control larvae within leaves. See Cabbage Section for more information. dimethoate (Dimethoate 4EC): 8 oz/A (14 dh, REI 48h, Group 1B). For turnip greens and roots only. permethrin (Pounce* 25WP): 3.2 to 9.6 oz/A (1 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A). Turnip only. pymetrozine (Fulfill): 2.75 oz/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 9A). For aphids on turnip greens only. spinetoram (Radiant SC): 6 to 10 oz/A (1 dh, REI 4h, Group 5). For leafminers only. Efficacy improves with the addition of an adjuvant. spinosad (Entrust): 1.25 to 3 dry oz/A (1 dh, REI 4h, Group 5). For leafminers on turnip greens only. Efficacy improves with the addition of an adjuvant. OMRI listed. Cabbage MaggotSee Cabbage Section for more information on cabbage maggot. Both spring and fall crops are susceptible to maggot damage. Cooler soils in early fall allow survival of eggs from late season maggot fly. Use drop nozzles directed to base of plant. Use at least 100 gal water/A. Disease ControlNOTE: For the products for disease control listed below, one product trade name and formulation is provided for each active ingredient (common name) as an example of rates, days to harvest (dh), REI, and special instructions. In many cases there are other products available with the same active ingredient. Please see Table 22 and Alphabetical Listing by Trade Name for more information on products with the same active ingredients. Leaf Spots (Alternaria and Cercospora)Leaf spot fungi do not infect the root but infection can reduce yield, and blighted foliage can reduce the value of fresh-packed plants. To help reduce leaf spot, buy hot-water treated seed, reduce weeds and plow under crop debris in the fall. Black Leg (Phoma Leaf spot and canker)From foliar lesions, the pathogen spreads into leaf veins to the petioles and eventually the main stem. On root crops, such as rutabaga and turnip, a dry rot of the bulb or hypocotyl, develops. The neck and shoulder areas have large, brown lesions and an extensive dry rot deep into the fleshy tissue develops. Severely affected bulbs become shrivelled and dry, and are often invaded by secondary fungal and bacterial decay organisms. Start with certified disease free seed or treat seed with hot water or fungicides. Rotate to non-susceptible crops. Promptly incorporate infected crop debris after harvest. Apply foliar fungicides to protect susceptible cultivars. Seed Decay and Damping-Off (Turnip only)Buy treated seed. Do not use treated seed for food or feed. White Rust, White blister (Albugo candida)Yield reductions are rare but quality is reduced by the prominent signs of the pathogen. On radish, white rust can also infect flower shoots and cause root swellings. Use resistant cultivars where available and rotate to non-hosts where the disease is common. Proper fertility levels, especially of phosphorous and potassium, have been reported to reduce disease. |
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