Difference Between Turnip and Rutabaga (With Table)

The turnip is a cool-season crop with a short growing season. Turnips are sown in moderate climates either in early spring or late summer and develop quickly enough to yield a crop before summer or late fall weather extremes emerge. It is sometimes produced as a cattle feed crop. Turnips are ideal when they are small and sensitive, about the size of a tennis ball. They become woody as they grow in size. 

Rutabagas are biennial plants. They usually have waxy and smooth leaves with an expanded base. They have distinct neck and well-defined leaf scars. The roots are high in fiber, potassium, and vitamin C, and its flesh is solid and well-preserved during winters. It can be eaten raw or pickled. The leaves are frequently prepared in the same way that other mustard greens are. 

Comparison Table Between Turnip and Rutabaga 

What is Turnip? 

Turnip, often known as white turnip, is a hardy biennial mustard family plant that is grown for its fleshy roots and soft growing tops. The turnip is said to have originated in central and eastern Asia, but it is now farmed across the temperate zone.  

Young turnip roots are consumed raw or pickled, whereas young turnip leaves are cooked and served. When cooked and either whole or mashed, the roots are frequently used in stews. 

A turnip’s skin and flesh are both white. The protruding part above ground is purple or greenish in color. Other tomato shapes have been observed on occasion, but the root is normally conical in shape. There are no side roots on turnips. 

Turnip leaves, which have a flavor similar to mustard greens, are commonly consumed as turnip greens. Turnips are harvested at smaller sizes, and baby turnips are very desirable. These feature meat that is yellow, red, and orange and can be eaten fresh in salads. 

The thickening of the seedling’s primary root and the base of the young stem immediately above it results in the formation of the turnip root. During the first year, the stem is short and bears leaves that form a rosette-like bunch at the root’s tip. The leaves are grass-green and covered in coarse hairs. 

Turnip is a vegetable that can be found in salads, soups, and casseroles. Larger types are fed to farm animals as fodder. In Turkey, turnips are used to flavor carrot and spice juice. In the Middle East, they are often used as pickles. Turnip has therapeutic qualities and is thought to lower body temperature. 

What is Rutabaga? 

Rutabaga is a mustard family root vegetable cultivated for its fleshy roots and tasty leaves. Rutabagas are thought to have originated in Russia or Scandinavia during the late Middle Ages as a cross between turnips and wild cabbage. It is also known as yellow turnip, wax turnip, Swedish turnip, swede, or neep. 

White-fleshed species have rough green skin and an irregular shape, whereas yellow-fleshed species have smooth green, purple, or bronze skin and are more regularly structured. If the plant is allowed to grow for a second season, it produces cross-shaped blooms with four petals ranging in color from mild to brilliant yellow to pale orange. 

Its flesh is usually yellow in color. It has a denser root system and multiple lateral branches. Rutabaga leaves are waxy and smooth, and they grow from the plant’s aboveground part. Rutabaga has a prominent neck and a noticeable crown. Vegetables in larger sizes are harvested. 

Rutabaga is typically roasted and eaten with meats, but it is also a key ingredient in Swedish casserole, used as a flavor enhancer in soups and salads, and baked or boiled with potatoes. Rutabagas, like potatoes, can be peeled ahead of time. Rutabaga is used in a variety of dishes, including Rotmos, Smalahove, Raspe ball, and Potch. 

Rutabagas retain their tenderness as they grow in size. Even if you find any small ones, they are normally collected when they are grown. 

They are cold hardy and are only sown as a major or late crop. The plants are commonly grown in Canada, the United Kingdom, northern Europe, and, to a smaller extent, the United States, often as a cattle feed crop. 

Main Differences Between Turnip and Rutabaga 

1. Turnip is part of the Brassica Rapa species whereas rutabaga is part of the Brassica napobrassica species. 
2. Turnip is commonly known as white turnip and rutabaga is commonly known as yellow turnip. 
3. Turnip is white in color and rutabaga is yellow. 
4. Small varieties of turnip are used for human consumption and larger varieties are used as livestock feed. On the other hand, rutabaga’s leaves and tap roots are meant for human consumption. 
5. Both are mild is taste but rutabaga is sweeter. 
6. Turnip is harvested when its smaller in size whereas rutabaga is harvested when its larger. 
7. Turnip has 36 calories per cup along with 4.9 g of sugars. Rutabaga has 50 calories per cup along with 7.8 g of sugar. 

Conclusion 

Turnip and Rutabaga are both root vegetables that belong to the Brassica family (along with cabbages and broccoli), but rutabagas are thought to be a cross between a cabbage and a turnip. While they may appear and taste identical, rutabagas are slightly larger and sweeter. 

References 

1. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-56901-2_7 
2. https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/IND43969268/PDF