What are turnips?
Brassica rapa, commonly known as turnip, is a root vegetable that is usually white, red, or purple in color. It is often associated with potatoes or beets, but it really belongs to the Brassicaceae family, along with broccoli, cabbage, cauliflowers, kale, etc.
Our innovative vertical farming method using aeroponic towers made it possible to grow over 160 different annual crops including leafy greens, aromatic herbs, vegetables, fruits like strawberries and melons, and edible flowers, in less than one square meter of space without the use of soil. However, we do not recommend cultivating turnips on the towers.
Example of Well-Formed Turnips Grown in the Soil
Challenges with Growing Turnips on Aeroponic Towers
Turnips outgrow the growing ports of the aeroponic towers. They put pressure on the top section, pushing the shower cap, which delivers the 100% natural ionic mineral nutrient solution through a series of holes to the plant roots for optimal growth. They also cause water leakage when the low-wattage submersible pump is on. However, other crops from the same family as turnips like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages, and other brassicas thrive well on the towers.
Example of Turnip Outgrowing the Growing Port
Example of Turnip Causing Water Leakage
Example of Aeroponic Turnip Deformity
Root and Tuber Crops
Just like turnips, it is also not advisable to grow most root and tuber crops such as carrot, garlic, ginger, onion, and potato on the aeroponic towers. Aeroponic towers are originallydesigned for soilless growing and they may not provide the ideal environment for these crops.
Soil Requirements for Turnips
Since turnips are root vegetables, they grow well in loose, fertile soil with a pH of 6 to 6.5. This range holds the nutrients needed by the turnips. The pH of the soil refers to its acidity on a scale of 1 to 14. A pH level of 6 to 6.5 means it is slightly acidic.
Our Experience Growing Turnips on Aeroponic Towers
At Agrotonomy, in our Tower Farms, we have tried cultivating turnips on aeroponic towers.
Check out the video below to see what happened:
Learn More Through Our E-books:
