Turnips are a fall/winter crop here. Some folks find a bitterness to most brassicas, I don't. But they are definitly not as sweet in warm weather.

Purple top white globe turnips will taste strong and sometimes bitter in most of Zone 9 in May. Here in the Central Valley of California, they're planted commercially in September to mature in cool, but not freezing, fall weather.

I like the Purple Tops when well-grown. But I usually like much better the little sweet "summer turnips" in early spring or fall: Oasis, Hakeuri, White Lady. They also have sweet, hairless greens (with a tough midrib that should be removed). I find regular, hairy turnip greens palatable only after long simmering.

For later fall eating, try "Just Right" hybrid. Plant it at the same time as the little turnips. It's big, ugly, tender and sweet. It doesn't have a lot of usable bulb when young. Makes a big bunch of tall, sweet, hairless greens. Holds in the garden better in cold, wet weather than most turnips. It may be a cross between a true turnip and something else. I get my seed from Twilley, a firm which sells mostly to commercial growers. They and Stokes also sell White Lady. There are several sources for the other "summer turnips".

I also like the old-time sweet white turnip or rutabaga "Gilfeather", which has a harder, crisper texture than any of the turnips above. It keeps in storage. Plant with other fall turnips.

For earliest spring, try Tokyo Cross - very mild, but not as sweet as any of those named above. It can be harvested almost as soon as radishes.

Agree, they are a fall/winter crop or a very early early spring crop here as well. At those times some of the bitterness can be alleviated with consistent soil moisture levels.

Like most of their family they just won't tolerate heat.

Dave

We just had a few days of 90-100 weather, so that may have contributed to the bitterness. Oh well, they are beautiful to look at. Thanks for the help. I'm learning.

did you taste turnips raw?

We usually cook (boil) tunips and use them in chicken soups in the winter. Chicken soup with turnips is a good cold remedy.

Like other posters have pointed out, turnip like radishes are cool crop and like lots of water to be dense and juicy.
Even in zone 7/8 spring planting is too short for radish family. Fall planting is best. They can survive light frosts but become drier as time goes on.

Some of the small, mild turnips mature very quickly and can be managed in spring in many climates. And though not recommended for most root crops, they can even be started indoors and planted out in spring to allow them to mature in cool weather. You have to be devoted to do this, though.

I planted March 1 and since our real heat does not begin until July, I thought it would work. Yes, I love raw turnips and rutabegas too.

Bad luck with your heat wave. Better luck in the fall, and next spring. Catalog says you can start harvesting White Lady at 25 days.

Another way around the slight bitterness some mustard family plants have is in the cooking process. Look online for some recipies which use the turnips as a minor ingredient - say in a curry or in some sort of casserole. Sometimes that mustardy taste is just what's needed to balance the other flavors.

If they are very bitter though, better to toss and replant again later as others have said...