Wild Turnip
Brassica rapa campestris

Family: Brassicaceae or Cruciferae

What it is like

Brassica rapa campestris is a ANNUAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 0.8

Where it is found

River banks, arable and waste land.

Europe - Mediterranean. Naturalized in Britain.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Leaves - raw or cooked. A strong radish/cabbage flavour. An edible oil is obtained from the seed, it is best when cold pressed. Some varieties are rich in erucic acid which can be harmful.

Oil: Oil

Medicine

Rating: 1

The tuberous roots and seeds are considered to be antiscorbutic. A rather strange report, the leaves are much more likely to contain reasonable quantities of vitamin C than the roots or seeds.

Antiscorbutic: A plant rich in vitamin C that is used to counteract scurvy.

Vitamin C: Plants good for their vitamin C content

Other

Rating:

The seed contains up to 45% of a semi-drying oil. It is used as a lubricant, luminant and in soap making.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

How it is grown

Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil. Succeeds in any reasonable soil but prefers one on the heavy side. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.8 to 8.3. This is the wild form of the turnip with a non-tuberous tap-root. It is closely related to the cultivated forms that are grown for their edible oil-bearing seeds.

Propagating it: Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Annual

Hardiness: 6-9

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

The oil contained in the seed of some varieties of this species can be rich in erucic acid which is toxic. However, modern cultivars have been selected which are almost free of erucic acid.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

B. campestris autumnalis. B. rapa campestris. (L.)Clapham.