Radish, Rutabaga and Turnip: Popular Brassica Root Vegetables

Radishes are a popular root vegetable of Brassicaceae family and are grown for their fleshy edible tubers, which are actually modified tap roots. Radishes can be grown as annuals or biennials depending upon the growing purposes. For vegetable purposes, it is grown as an annual and for seed production, it is grown as a biennial. Tubers may be eaten raw as a salad vegetable or cooked as a vegetable dish. Just like other Brassica vegetables, radishes are also a powerhouse of nutrients. Radishes are among the top 50 plant-based nutrient-dense foods. Radish is believed to be originated in the Mediterranean region.

Rutabagas are neither turnips nor cabbages. It is actually a hybrid between cabbage and turnip. Rutabaga plants are grown for its leaves and roots. Rutabaga roots are used as a root vegetable while Rutabaga greens are used as a leafy vegetable. Rutabagas are one of the most important nutrient-dense foods available today. Rutabaga plants are a crop of temperate climates. It is believed to be originated in the Mediterranean region. Common names of rutabagas are Swedish turnip and yellow turnip.

Turnip plants are grown for its leaves and roots. Turnip roots are used as a root vegetable while turnip greens are used as a leafy vegetable. Turnip greens are one of the most important nutrient-dense foods available today. Turnip plants are a crop of temperate climates. It is believed to be originated in the Mediterranean region.