Quick Navigation
Main Navigation
About Us
Education & Events
Ways to Give & Membership
Preservation
Shop
Learn
Until 2017 , the Seed Savers Exchange solicitation include the “ turnabaga . ” What is a turnabaga , you might rightfully necessitate ? Well , it was a very singular veggie that we can now proudly say is extinct .
At Seed Savers we sometimes tongue-in-cheek referred to our assemblage of 75 turnips and 95 rutabagas as “ turnabagas . ” discombobulation reigns over these crop type , owe to the fact that in the United Kingdom , a mutual name for rutabaga is “ Swedish turnip . ”
Brassica Napus
Botanically , however , rutabagas and turnips are typically unlike mintage , Brassica napusandBrassica rapa , respectively , and will not sweep - pollinate .
This confusion has made seed yield of our turnip and rutabaga multifariousness unmanageable . Correctly identify these biennials was only potential in their 2nd year , by look at their flowers and germ pods . As a result , we had to isolate all of them from each other , just in case .
No more .
Brassica Napus
In October 2010 , the USDA ’s Seed Regulatory and Testing Branch publish the article “ Visual Identification of Seeds of Five Species ofBrassicaand One Species ofSinapis ” in itsItems of Interest in Seed .
This article detail how to distinguish five commonly cultivated species ofBrassicaby their seeds , includingBrassica rapa , Brassica napus , Brassica oleracea , Brassica juncea , andBrassica nigra . These species comprise the craw character rutabaga , white turnip , simoleons , leaf mustard , and Chinese cabbage , among others .
This breakthrough let us to confirm the metal money of manyBrassicavarieties in our collectionbeforegrowing them out in the field for source production .
Brassica Rapa
Under the Microscope
To the bare eye , allBrassicaseeds look similar . They are small-scale , usually scarlet to brown , and relatively round . However , under overstatement , and with patience and careful notice , differences become fairly obvious .
The surface ofBrassicaseed coats is overlaid with a geometric convention of interspaces , specify by raised ridge called reticulum , and dot with small pits , or stipples . These characteristics are quite distinct among species when ejaculate are blow up 30 to 40 times .
Other delineate characteristics — such as source sizing , color , chassis , and light reflectivity — are also clear under blowup . By accept all these seed characteristics into account , it is ordinarily fairly soft to describe the source of theBrassicagenus to the species grade .
Brassica juncea seeds show very distinct ridges and large, shallow interspaces. Photograph by Tim Johnson.
After observing the seeds of all 75 turnip accession and 95 Swedish turnip accessions in our collection under the microscope , we had our ( not surprising ) results . As we had expected , 14 rutabagas had been living under false pretence as turnips , while no turnips had been misclassified as rutabagas .
The name “ turnabaga ” was swiftly retired from Seed Savers lingo .
Beyond the Turnabagas
The USDA ’s article shew useful beyond our rutabaga and Brassica rapa collection . Kale is a craw in theBrassicagenus that includes two different species : B. napus , known as Siberian / Russian lucre , andB. oleracea , or European kale . We now know our kale collection lie of about 55B. oleraceaaccessions , 34B. napusaccessions , and 3 unknowns .
Our Taiwanese cabbage crop character , which has historically been a classification apply to any Asian green , also included several differentBrassicaspecies . Of 239 total assenting , about 221 were identified asB. rapa , two asB. napus , and zero asB. juncea orB. oleracea . Sixteen others are unknown / unidentifiable .
Our mustard crop type prove to be as divers . Of 125 full accession , about 96 were name asB. juncea , one asB. rapa , and four asB. nigra . Others are strange / unidentified .
Brassica rapa seeds show pronounced ridges and small interspaces. Photograph by Tim Johnson.
Finally , our “ miscellaneousBrassica”collection let in accession where the crop type does n’t fit into the typical brassica crop or are unknown . This , too , proved ambitious , but out of 54 full admission , seven were determine to beB. oleracea , oneB. napus , two sort as “ other ” , and 44 unknown region / unidentified .
The recognition of metal money in ourBrassicacollection will be very utilitarian for its direction and availableness . Knowing the taxonomy of our varieties will make it soft to search for likely duplicates , settle their culinary employment , and interpret their life cycle .
Perhaps most significantly , knowing the taxonomy enables us to better plan semen regeneration planting in our isolation garden . And we can pass this information onto you , our members and fellow seed savers , through the Exchange , so that you could do the same in your garden .
Originally issue March 24 , 2017 . Updated January 31 , 2025 .
3094 North Winn RoadDecorah , Iowa 52101(563 ) 382 - 5990
Copyright © 2025 Seed Savers Exchange . icon on this web site are protect by right of first publication — unauthorised purpose is not permitted .
Seed Savers Exchange is a taxation - nontaxable 501(c)3 non-profit-making arrangement consecrate to the preservation of heirloom seeds .
