[Bailz]

Hi everyone is it too late to grow beetroot? cheers neil

[Old Tom]

I hope not, I`ve just put some in. 

[viettaclark]

I've just sown turnips and beetroot.

[Bailz]

how do you grow turnips? is it seed straight into the ground? how much space and do they need covering?

[viettaclark]

Straight in in rows and thin later. Slug death is useful but the birds don't seem to attack!
You can eat the greens too.
Check the seed packet. My French ones from Real Seeds can be planted up to the end of August for an early Spring crop but other types may differ.

[mumofstig]

I always sow Purple Topped Milan about now for a crop of small ones before the weather gets too bad.
Makes use of space left after spuds lifted 

[stompy]

Do turnips store well, or can you leave them in the ground like swedes?

[mumofstig]

I start using them at golf ball size and then aim to have them finished by about mid December, I would say.
The bigger they get the woodier they get, so don't leave them in too long

I've never tried storing them, apart from frozen.

[sunshineband]

They don't store particularly well tbh --- OK in the veg drawer of the fridge in a ploy bag, but you might as well leave them in the ground and use them as you need 

[stompy]

I never got round to sowng any swedes this year so i was thinking of sowing turnips instead for use in stews over winter.

I don't want to buy swedes if i can help it.

I supose i can blanch and freeze but it's not ideal as at the moment we only have a fridge freezer so not much room.