Let Them Eat Turnips!

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by shiney, Apr 28, 2023.

  1. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    When Therese Coffey, Secretary for State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, made her stupid comment in parliament about food shortages and suggested we eat local seasonal things like turnips, she made a fool of herself.

    I don't know about you but I have been trying to find turnips in the shops for weeks! Have any of you seen them?
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    I thought it was the wrong time of year for turnips, I always remember being told Swede is hardier than turnip.
    But it was never something I bothered growing much.
     
  3. Jiffy

    Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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    I've not taken any notice if they are in the shops here, but there is something that sticks in my mind that there may be some in the shops but i don't like turnips/swede anyway so i will look next tuesday and see, she may be trying to do the oppist to what Mrs curry done with eggs

    Let reinvent the wheel
     
  4. noisette47

    noisette47 Total Gardener

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    Ah..over here we were advised by our glorious Prés to substitute meat and fish with healthy, nourishing (and cheap) pulses. Nothing to do with us not being able to afford decent meat or fish anymore, oh nonono. The last time someone pulled a stunt like that, in 1789, 'the people' chopped her head off, so watch yourself, M Macron!
     
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    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      I always thought turnips were a summer crop. She would have been better recommending potatoes as most folk like them and they are farmed locally throughout the UK and can be stored to be supplied all year.
       
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        • Clueless 1 v2

          Clueless 1 v2 Total Gardener

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          I wonder if she meant swedes.

          I can't remember ever seeing turnips in the shops. I do however see swedes. I don't know if it's a local, regional or national thing but round here, most people erroneously call swedes turnips.
           
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          • NigelJ

            NigelJ Total Gardener

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            I've grown turnips and swede, swede are a lot hardier than turnips, turnips can be grown for their tops which can be eaten like mustard greens, I've also seen them grown and used as fodder for sheep.
            Turnips are white fleshed, Swedes are yellow fleshed, a lot harder flesh than turnips. Swedes can be roasted, chipped and made into crisps as well as boiled and mashed, Roasting doesn't really work with turnips.
            I prefer swedes.
             
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            • shiney

              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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              They usually crop from mid to late summer through Autumn.

              I use them when making stews and casseroles - and in chicken soup when I can't get Hamburg Rooted Parsley (looks like parsley with a large root similar to parsnip) and can usually be bought in Polish stores. It has a nicer flavour than turnip.
               
            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              Maybe she should have said "let them eat Hamburg rooted parsley ".

              Much more upper class..:whistle:
               
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              • Michael Hewett

                Michael Hewett Total Gardener

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                Yes I often buy turnips - the purple top ones, they have them in the local open air market in a town near here most Fridays.
                 
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                • Selleri

                  Selleri Koala

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                  What's the difference between a swede and onion?


                  Sticking a knife into onion makes you cry.

                  Finnish joke, and not very new at that... I'll get my knife coat :sofa:
                   
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                  • Sheal

                    Sheal Total Gardener

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                    • Sheal

                      Sheal Total Gardener

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                      Excuse me while I digress for a moment. My daughter said yesterday the price of a cauliflower where she lives in Canada is now equivalent too £8.22 :yikes:
                       
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                      • shiney

                        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                        You're excused. :)

                        I bought an extra large cauli for £1.80 in Tesco yesterday and it weighed 3.5lb
                         
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