Gilfeather Turnip

• 85 days. 
• Gilfeather Turnip may have originated as a chance cross between a turnip and rutabaga, noted for sweet tender white flesh. 
• Delicious hardy greens may be dug from under snow all winter.
• Milder and sweeter than either a turnip or rutabaga and not woody even at softball size. 
• Plant early spring or late summer. 
• A Vermont heirloom, highly guarded for decades. Mr Gilfeather of Wardsboro, Vt.  either deveopled or found this cross between a turnip and rutabaga in the late 1800’s.  The mysterious Mr. Gilfeather sold his turnips with tops and taproot removed so no one could collect seed of his delicious selection. But some seeds did escape into the hands of William and Mary Lou Schmidt who then propagated and commercialized Gilfeather Turnip. 

Planting Directions: For a first crop, plant as early in Spring as ground can be prepared until early summer. For fall and winter crop plant in early August.  Soil temperature 50° to 95° Turnips grow best when soil temperature is between 40°-75° in loose, well drained soil. Usually does need additional fertilizer if organic matter is incorporated into soil. Sow seed 1/4” deep  in rows 12-18” apart. Begin thinning when plants are 3-6” tall until plants are 4-6 “ apart.  Cultivate and weed frequently. Water moderately on a regular schedule.  Greens obtained from thinning or young plants are good to use as cooked greens. Just be careful not to harvest too many leaves from one plant or turnip growth will be slowed.