Wild Turnip

Biological Name:

Brassica spp. (Wild-Turnip)

Natural Habitat:

Wild-turnip is a type of root vegetable that grows in a variety of environments, including fields, meadows, and woodland edges. It is commonly found in many parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia.

Description:

Wild-Turnip is a biennial herb that is native to Europe and Asia. It has small white flowers and long narrow leaves. It is often found in agricultural fields and is a common weed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is a wild turnip?
A: Wild turnip is a common name for several plants and may refer to: Arisaema triphyllum, native to forests of eastern North America, with a toxic corm. Brassica rapa, the cultivated turnip species, which has been introduced throughout the world.
Source

Q: Can humans eat forage turnips?
A: Turnips can be eaten both cooked or raw, and turnip greens make a great addition to salads.
Source

Q: What happens if you eat wild parsnip?
A: How is wild parsnip related to the vegetable that I love to sauté in butter? Like cultivated parsnips, its roots are edible. But wild parsnip’s sap can cause severe blisters and burns.
Source

Q: How can you tell if a turnip is wild?
A: Distinguishing features When wild turnip flowers, a tall upright flower stem forms, and leaves present near the top of this flower stem are quite smooth, lacking the bristly hairs of rosette leaves. A similar weed, wild radish has bristly leaves over all the flowering plant.
Source

Q: Why are turnips good for sickness?
A: Turnips have a lot going for them: they pack a wallop of vitamin C and are also full of vitamins A and B. In Iran, people with colds often eat a plate of cooked, mashed turnips. Besides delivering plenty of vitamin C, the root vegetable is believed to act as an expectorant.
Source

Q: Can you eat raw turnips?
A: Turnips have a crisp, white inner flesh and a zesty, peppery flavor. People can eat them raw or cooked.
Source

Q: What happens when you eat raw turnips?
A: Raw turnips contain a range of vitamins and minerals that benefit your health. Turnip root provides a rich source of vitamin C, an antioxidant vitamin that also contributes to the health of your bones and skin.
Source

Q: Are wild turnips poisonous?
A: The roots of the plant are considered toxic. The topic First Aid for Wild Turnip Poisoning you are seeking is a synonym, or alternative name, or is closely related to the topic First Aid for Jack-in-the-Pulpit Poisoning.
Source

Q: Is wild parsnip harmful to humans?
A: Wild parsnip roots are edible, but the sap of the plant can cause severe burns. Collecting the plant from the wild should only be done with extreme care. See the section Protective Clothing below. Wild parsnip, which is also known as poison parsnip, is a member of the carrot/parsley family.
Source

Q: What happens if you touch wild parsnips?
A: Wild parsnip sap contains chemicals called furanocoumarins which can make skin more vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation. Brushing against or breaking the plant releases sap that, combined with sunlight, can cause a severe burn within 24 to 48 hours.
Source

Q: Can you eat wild turnips?
A: Edible parts of wild turnip include the leaves (especially the younger, less bitter ones), the flowers, the flower buds, the roots, and the seeds. Use the leaves just like bok choy leaves. They lose volume very quickly when cooked though, so you only need to fry or steam them for a few seconds.
Source

Q: Who should not eat turnips?
A: If you are suffering from thyroid disorders, it is best to avoid eating turnips as this vegetable contains certain compounds that may affect the thyroid gland and interfere in the functioning of the hormone.
Source

Q: How can you tell if a turnip is wild?
A: Turnip (Brassica rapa) Leaves are green and fuzzy, and attached to slender succulent stems that often show purple coloration. Mustard and turnip leaves are similar but turnips show more definite notching of the margins and are not curly.
Source

Q: What happens if you eat raw turnip?
A: Raw turnips contain a range of vitamins and minerals that benefit your health. Turnip root provides a rich source of vitamin C, an antioxidant vitamin that also contributes to the health of your bones and skin.
Source

Q: Will deer eat wild turnips?
A: The cool thing about planting turnips in your food plot is the deer love to eat both the leafy tops and the taproots (or the turnip). And if, for some reason, the deer don’t want the underground turnips, you can always harvest them and serve them for dinner yourself.
Source

Q: What kills wild turnip?
A: A range of knockdown and post-emergent herbicides will control turnip weed in cereal crops. Eclipse® is an effective option for spray-topping pulse crops if the rotation requires them.
Source

Q: Where do turnips naturally grow?
A: The turnip is thought to have originated in middle and eastern Asia and is grown throughout the temperate zone. Young turnip roots are eaten raw in salads or pickled, and the young leaves may be cooked and served.
Source

Q: Why do farmers plant turnips in their fields?
A: Turnips are an excellent cover for farmers who graze cattle on their fields after harvest. They are a high moisture plant, and cattle favor them due to their high sugar content. They are packed with protein, as well, and so make a great forage plant for cattle through the winter months.
Source

Q: What happens if you bury turnips?
A: Even though the turnips will rot over time, nothing bad will happen to them if you decide to bury them. If you aren’t worried about friends or other players stealing them, you can store the turnips outside. The most effective way to do this and save space is to bury them in the ground.
Source

Q: Can you just leave turnips on the ground?
A: Yes, really, just leave them on the floor in your house until you want to sell. There are no consequences to leaving your turnips on the floor. If you really want to get into the stalk market, consider making one of your rooms a dedicated turnip cellar.
Source

Q: Do deer like turnips?
A: The cool thing about planting turnips in your food plot is the deer love to eat both the leafy tops and the taproots (or the turnip). And if, for some reason, the deer don’t want the underground turnips, you can always harvest them and serve them for dinner yourself.
Source

Q: Can you eat turnip greens?
A: Turnip greens have a peppery flavor, similar to mustard greens and arugula. Because they tend to be fibrous, they are best eaten cooked. Whether sautéed, braised, or added to soups, turnip greens are one of the healthiest and nutrient-dense vegetables around.
Source

About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.