You have been busy! I can't seem to even get the leaves mulched in the garden and flower beds.....still in windrows in the front yard.

I did get my garden seed order in and that's about it.

Sounds like you've accomplished a lot this weekend Dorothy.
That's a BIG asparagus bed! Are you growing it to sell? Mine seemed very easy at first and then I started having trouble with beetles laying eggs on the spears. Still, I think I'd like to order some male spears of some sort that won't go to seed like mine does that I have now.

I got a catalog from Stokes Seeds this week. I still want to buy Kohlrabi seeds but I think I can get those locally instead of ordering them.

What kind of turnips are you growing Dorothy? I think my kids would eat them if I found a variety that wasn't hot. Sometimes they can be a little sweet and I think they would love those. I don't know if it's the growing conditions or the variety that makes the difference.

That is a lot of leaves. I haul mine in from Joplin in my little pickup and I like to be able to see out the back, so I can't get that many. Leaves, chicken litter that should be wonderful after it rots. No wonder you can grow asparagus. I covered my pots with leaves. Tonight will be the coldest it has been I think.

Christie, I raise that old standby Purple Top Turnip. And I am convinced that growing conditions have more to do with flavor than variety. If planted in a well composted bed enriched with a light sprinkle of woodash, watered and thinned well in a cool fall, turnips are the sweetest. We can control everything but the weather, and this year with good coolish weather I didn't control the thinning and watering as well as I should have. Still I like turnips. One mistake people often make is to cook them for too long. The longer they are cooked the stronger they become. They are best if just steamed tender. Dorothy

If I pull turnips what do I do then. Will they keep in the refrigerator. I don't know if they are good or not. I haven't watered or cared for them in any way except I did thin them.

I put the bag of turnips the neighbor gave me out in the milk parlor which gets about the temp of a fridge. I notice they are putting out green tops! Maybe it is too warm of a day out there. I may let them grow and cook some.

Sorry I didn't see this earlier, Helen. My computer has been in the shop, just came home today. You can tell if they are good by pulling and cutting one open. If it is still firm and crisp, it's good. And yes, they will keep quite a while in the frig. Glenda, you can let the tops grow and then cook them, but then the roots will probably go pithy on you, as they feed the tops. You will probably get leaves at the expense of roots.

Mine are crisp, not pithy with a good texture but the taste is strong. I think the dry weather may have affected the taste. Even with potatoes and butter, I did not like them. I would like to learn to like something so easy to grow. I will try them again.

Yes, dry weather makes them strong. So does hot weather so most people raise them in the fall. Better luck next fall.

I find the Japanese Hakuri Turnips very mild and tasty, but the seed is kinda expensive.

Charlie