SAVING SEEDS - TURNIPS
By: Ron
The One Who Walks Two Paths
Turnips are biennials. They produce leaves and roots the first year, and after wintering over they produce flower stalks the second year.
To save seeds from your turnips, plant seeds near the end of June. What you are striving for is to have turnip roots just barely mature in the fall. Harvest the turnips and cut the tops off, leaving 1 inch of the leaf stem. Then place the roots in a box on sand or shavings and mix some barely damp sand or shavings with equal amounts of dry, covering your roots. Place in the root cellar for the winter.
As soon as the soil can be worked in the spring, choose 8 of the best turnips to plant. Plant your turnip roots, barely covering the tops, about 2 feet apart. The flower stalks can get up to five foot tall so give them plenty of space. Watch the plant closely and as soon as you see the seed pods (they look like cabbage seed pods) start to yellow, it is time to cut the top off and hang the stem upside down to dry. Dig the root and place in the compost pile.
Roll the seed pods between your hands to release the seed, then separate the seed from the chaff. Label and store. The seed remains viable for 4 years.