Experience delicious, fine-grained and sweet golden turnips with smooth yellow skin and flesh that never becomes woody. Best quality is achieved by pulling them at 3" inches, and their tops can also be used as a tasty green. These turnips are ready in approximately 55 days and have a long shelf life.
Golden Globe, an heirloom turnip, has been recorded since 1859. According to gardening expert William Woys Weaver, "Americans shared the Scottish love for this yellow turnip because it was an old hardy sort dating at least from the eighteenth century that could be relied on well into the winter. In fact, this variety... could be stored through the following March and were greatly valued as a food source when other supplies were low."
Sowing: Golden Globe turnip seeds thrive when planted three weeks before the last frost in the spring or after the hottest part of summer for a fall crop. Direct sow yellow turnip seeds in rich, deeply worked soil and full sun, 1/2" deep in rows 12-18" apart. Thin the seedlings to 4-6" apart as they grow.
Growing: To conserve moisture and control weeds, apply mulch. Watch out for pests, such as the red and black harlequin bug, and remove them to prevent damage.
Harvesting: Harvest greens as soon as they reach a good size for eating. If using both the greens and the root, harvest only 2-3 leaves per root. For the most tenderness and flavor, pull small turnips when they reach a size of 1-3". Cut the top down to 1/2" and store them in a cool, dark place without washing off the dirt for extended storage. Gardeners with warmer winters can apply a layer of mulch and leave the crop in the ground all winter.
Seed Saving: Yellow turnips will cross-pollinate with other turnip varieties, so they should be isolated to maintain genetic purity. This vegetable must overwinter before producing seed. In warmer climates, a layer of mulch will suffice for protection. In colder climates, dig up the turnips, cut the tops to 1" and store them in damp sand at 33-40 degrees F until replanting in spring. The roots will send up flowering stalks. Remove the seed pods before they shatter or dig up the entire plant and hang it upside down in a protected location to dry. Thresh the seed from the dry pods by crushing them. Store bulk Golden Globe turnip seeds in a cool, dry place for up to 4 years.