First Korean Turnip

GoDawgs · December 19, 2019

I pulled a few more turnips yesterday, including the first one from seed I bought at the Korean grocery store. The only thing on the packet that was in English and not Korean characters, other than the company name, was the variety name of Gang Hwa. Here's a pic of the Gang Hwa (on the left) next to the old time Purple Top turnips I always plant. The Korean one's kind of wedge shaped. I'll let the next ones get bigger. They were sown about three weeks after the Purple Tops so that there wouldn't be a ton of turnips ready at once.

Nan_PA_6b · December 19, 2019

How do they taste?

DonDuck · December 19, 2019

I watched a television show a couple of years ago where they were harvesting turnips I believe in New Zealand. The summer growing season was short and very cool. The turnips didn't have enough growing time to get very large but they were surprisingly sweet. I've grown a lot of turnips over the years as a cover crop and for the greens. I've never been able to develop a taste for the bulbs. If I could find a sweeter variety, I might like them. Let me know how the Korean turnips taste.

imp · December 20, 2019

Don, you might like the younger turnips raw sliced thinly or in matchsticks in a salad. Another way is to slice about mmm 1/4 inch, salt to pull juice out rinse and dredge in corn meal then shallow fry them.

GoDawgs · December 20, 2019

I haven't tried it yet but probably will today. It might be a better comparison if I find a purple top in the garden that's the same size as the Korean.

Imp, thanks for that tip about the salt/dredge/fry thing. I've never done that before but will try it.

NewWestGardener · December 20, 2019

Turnips make wonderful pickles, that’s what they have been grown for in Northern China， I’ve never had it in other form。 Salt brined, then soaked in some soy sauce, then thinly julienned, sprinkled with some sesame seeds or oil, red chili flakes, and serve.

GoDawgs · December 20, 2019

Okay, I picked a similar sized purple top turnip and have tried both raw. To me, the Korean one is crisper than the purple top but the purple top is a bit sweeter aznd has a bit more turnip flavor. It will be interesting to see if the flavor of the Korean one changes with time and size.

DonDuck · December 21, 2019

Thanks Imp! That sounds good. I will try it.

imp · December 21, 2019

Forgot to say, I use the classic 3 stage thing for coating the turnips - flour, then egg, then cornmeal. It's not too thick, but gets the coating to stick!

December 19, 2019	#1
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	First Korean Turnip I pulled a few more turnips yesterday, including the first one from seed I bought at the Korean grocery store. The only thing on the packet that was in English and not Korean characters, other than the company name, was the variety name of Gang Hwa. Here's a pic of the Gang Hwa (on the left) next to the old time Purple Top turnips I always plant. The Korean one's kind of wedge shaped. I'll let the next ones get bigger. They were sown about three weeks after the Purple Tops so that there wouldn't be a ton of turnips ready at once.

December 20, 2019	#4
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	Don, you might like the younger turnips raw sliced thinly or in matchsticks in a salad. Another way is to slice about mmm 1/4 inch, salt to pull juice out rinse and dredge in corn meal then shallow fry them. __________________ I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing.

December 21, 2019	#9
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	Forgot to say, I use the classic 3 stage thing for coating the turnips - flour, then egg, then cornmeal. It's not too thick, but gets the coating to stick! __________________ I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing.

December 19, 2019	#2
Nan_PA_6b Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 3,194	How do they taste?

December 19, 2019	#3
DonDuck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Corinth, texas Posts: 1,784	I watched a television show a couple of years ago where they were harvesting turnips I believe in New Zealand. The summer growing season was short and very cool. The turnips didn't have enough growing time to get very large but they were surprisingly sweet. I've grown a lot of turnips over the years as a cover crop and for the greens. I've never been able to develop a taste for the bulbs. If I could find a sweeter variety, I might like them. Let me know how the Korean turnips taste.

December 20, 2019	#6
NewWestGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 564	Turnips make wonderful pickles, that’s what they have been grown for in Northern China， I’ve never had it in other form。 Salt brined, then soaked in some soy sauce, then thinly julienned, sprinkled with some sesame seeds or oil, red chili flakes, and serve.