Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Ghost on December 31, 2012, 16:31
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Hi
I'm thinking of growing turnips next year. I understand they are a brassica. Do I need to cover them because of the birds, like other brassicas? Do they get caterpillars eating their leaves?
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My turnips seemed to get a lot of flea beetle in dry weather, (if we ever get any more) but didn't seem to get attacked by birds or butterflies.
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Others may differ, but the biggest problem I`ve had with turnips has been flea beetle in the very young plants. I normally fleece the rows after sowing and leave it on until the plants are well established and a few holes are less likely to put the plants back.
If you`re concerned about other pests you could leave the fleece on till harvest.
Never really had a problem with birds in turnips despite having to net other stuff on the plot.
Will
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As above ^^^ flea beetle has been the only problem I've had.
I have read that thickly sown turnips suppress couch grass and some other weeds, anyone know if this is true or another old gardeners tale?
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My turnips just never seem to get very big, don't know why.
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I don't let mine get big, they're sweeter when they're still small :)