[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks for the tip on the mock mill.

Re: Turnips! This lady says to just leave them where they are and harvest as needed.

“I took a kitchen knife to the tops of the majority of my crop, and laid the greens around the roots to act as a mulch. Yes, I could have eaten the greens, but I was literally on my way out the door for our trip.

Next, I uprooted just a couple of decent sized turnips, cut the tops off, and reburied them where they’d been growing. I wished them luck and was on my way. I thought for sure the bugs would destroy them or they would rot before we got back home.”

https://www.newlifeonahomestead.com/how-to-store-turnips-in-the-ground/

I don’t grow root crops (other than onions once in a while) because I have clay soil, even in a raised & amended bed. Wisconsin root crops are always cheap because the entire middle of our state is sandy loam and perfect for root crops. The majority of our crops & canning companies are in Plover, WI.

[metmom]

Thanks for the link.

I know in ground storage has been used for a long time for many crops, like potatoes, onions, apples, etc.

IMO, turnips are a very underrated veggie. They work great in soups and stews in lieu of potatoes and are lower carb. The link you gave also references turnip fries. Something I will have to check out.

I had many volunteer turnips grow in odd places after my other ones went to seed and they grow wonderfully in even the most inhospitable circumstances.

[Iron Munro]

Thanks for the reminders about turnips.
I remember that my grandmother, mom and aunts used turnips.
I have always been a veggie person but haven’t seen a turnip in decades.
I don’t recall seeing them in the grocery stores or at the roadside veggie stands.
Maybe they are there and I’m just passing them by - I’ll have to look a little closer.
I’ll get some seeds and see if I can get them to grow in our sandy soil.