Scientific name: Brassica rapa subsp. sylvestris var. esculent

Family: Cruciferae or Brassicaceae

Brief history and botanical notes on the plant
The turnip top (Brassica rapa subsp. sylvestris var. esculenta) belongs to the Cruciferae or Brassicaceae family and is a species of ancient Mediterranean origin.
Strongly linked to the food customs of central-southern Italy, where 95% of national production is concentrated in Puglia, Lazio and Campania, it is above all in Puglia that turnip greens are considered the queen of traditional dishes, so much so that they have been included in the 'List of Traditional Regional Products and in 2006, 4,158 hectares were cultivated with this vegetable.
In the north, repeated cultivations, even if on not very large surfaces, have shown that a quality product can be obtained, however, for climatic reasons, limiting themselves to the cultivation of early varieties.
The stem is very short and on it is inserted a rosette of leaves characterized by a high polymorphism, the color is light green - green. The plant can reach 40 cm in the early varieties and one meter in the late ones.
The flowers, typically yellow, are gathered in inflorescences called corymbs and represent, together with the leaves that surround them, the edible part. Pollination is allogamous (by pollen produced both by other flowers of the same plant and by flowers of other individuals belonging to the same species) and occurs by insects, however it also occurs by autogamy (self-pollination).
The inflorescence must be harvested when the flowers are still closed and, if climatic conditions permit, lateral shoots develop, which emit secondary inflorescences which can be harvested again. The roots develop quite on the surface and are quite similar to each other (fasciculated), especially in transplanted plants.
The duration of the cultivation cycle depends on the greater or lesser earliness of the varieties. In the early ones it is 50-60 days from the germination of the seed, in the later ones it reaches 170-180 days.
The turnip top (Brassica rapa subsp. sylvestris var. esculenta) is an annual herbaceous plant, it belongs to the Cruciferae or Brassicaceae family.
The varietal difference is based on the duration of the cultivation cycle and on the development of the plants which is greater in the late ones.
The most widespread varieties are: Quarantina (A), Sessantina (B), Novantina (C), Centoventina (D).
In the northern regions we recommend cultivating early varieties (Quarantina, Sessantina) to anticipate harvesting.
In the centre-south, in addition to those mentioned, varieties and selections that can be found locally are on the market, such as Aprilatica (E) and several others.

Pedoclimatic needs
Turnip greens are typical of Mediterranean crops, they do not tolerate the cold, they cease vegetative activity at 5°C and die at temperatures close to zero.
In Northern Italy we recommend planning cultivation before the arrival of the cold. It loves loose soil, medium pH (6-7) and sunny exposure.

Sowing and transplanting times
Sowing is carried out between July and September (between the end of June and the end of July in the North) in the field in rows 30/50 cm apart and at a distance of approximately 25-30 cm on the row. Germination occurs at temperatures of 25°C in approximately 7 days. The seed should be placed at a depth of 2-3 mm.
Turnip greens produce a very small seed (even more than 500 seeds per gram) and can therefore be sown broadcast or in uninterrupted rows and subsequently thinned manually when the seedlings reach 4-5 cm in height.
In the family garden it is advisable to sow in the nursery, place a little seed in each container and when the seedlings begin to develop for three weeks, once a week, start thinning. After about 25-30 days, when the plant has reached about 10 cm, you can transplant it by inserting it into the ground at a depth beyond the collar to avoid the risk of it becoming lodged and to encourage rooting. Obviously it is preferable to grow the Quartina variety in the open field.

Fertilizations
Turnip greens have medium-low needs in nitrogen, low in phosphorus and medium in potassium. It is therefore interesting to grow turnip greens after a crop that has high nutritional needs and which has been fertilized with mature compost (manure or vegetable) such as for example the courgette to exploit the residual fertility left.
Turnip greens accumulate nitrates that are dangerous for human health, so do not overdo it with excessive and useless organic fertilization, act with common sense and only if the soil is in a phase of "tiredness" because it has been over-exploited.

Products
There are no specific products reported for either defense or fertilization.

Crop care and irrigation
After the transplanting phase and throughout the summer period it is necessary to irrigate (at least every 3-4 days) depending on the climatic trend. Avoid unnecessary and dangerous water stagnation due to root asphyxiation.
Only in the early stages may it be appropriate to pay attention to weeds which must be eliminated manually or with a grubber, subsequently in the full vegetative phase the turnip top shades the soil and prevents its regrowth.

Adversity
The turnip top is a rustic and undemanding plant, no significant adversities have been reported.

Production and collection
In approximately 1 m2 you can harvest 1.5-2.5 kg of turnip greens.

Nutritional values
In 100 g of edible part they provide 22 kcal and there are 1.5 mg of iron, 97 mg of calcium, 69 mg of phosphorus, 225 µg of vitamin A and 110 mg of vitamin C, as well as a high content of polyphenols.

Biodynamics
We recommend leaf/flower days for the management of turnip greens. If you transplant the seedlings from the alveoli you can, before planting them, immerse the roots in water dynamited with 500 (horn manure) or spray 500 in the furrows, this will favor a strong stimulation of rooting and subsequent growth of the plant, encouraging competition with weeds.
Use 501 (hornsilica) in the pre-flowering phase to slow down the vegetative phase and stimulate flowering, this is particularly suitable for harvesting inflorescences developed from lateral shoots after the first harvest.