Difference Between Turnip and Radish

Table of Contents

In our day-to-day life, we consume lots of vegetables as it is very essential to our health. They provide us with sufficient nutrients and vitamins which support the functioning of our body. The two well-known vegetables, turnip, and radish share similar looks and tastes but they vary in many parameters.

Turnip vs Radish

The main difference between turnip and radish is that turnip is belonging to the category of the Brassica genus while radish belongs to the category of the Raphanus genus. Both share very similar looks but radish is smaller in size and is pink in color while Turnip is in white color and is relatively bigger than the radish.

The turnip is also known as a white turnip. It is a root vegetable belonging to the Brassica genus and mostly grown in the temperate climate which is the temperature occurring in the middle of the latitudes of the earth. The word turnip is a Latin word and derived from the word “Napus” signifying plant and “turn” which means round plant.

Radish is a root plant belonging to the category of the Raphanus genus and it is mostly grown in the winter season and consumed all over the world. Radish is commonly eaten as salads. It is a crop that is easy to sow and harvest and hence can be grown in the gardens too with adequate sunlight, nutrients, and water, etc.

Comparison Table Between Turnip and Radish

Parameters of ComparisonTurnipRadish
GenusTurnip is belonging to the Brassica genus.Radish is belonging to the Raphanus genus.
SeasonMostly grown in the temperate climate.It is grown in the winter climate.
NutrientsThey are rich in calcium, vitamins, and help our digestion, etc.They provide us calcium, fiber and are known as immunity boosters.
SpeciesIt is a root vegetable.It is a root plant.
Gestation periodThe gestation period is around 60 days.Radish takes around 20-25 days to be grown.

What is Turnip?

A turnip is a root vegetable belonging to the Brassica genus. They are mostly grown in temperate climates. The gestation period for the turnip is around 60 days and requires soil rich in potassium and phosphorus and sufficient water. Turnip is not suitable for soil rich in nitrogen.

Turnip is derived from the Latin word “Napus” which means plant and the word “turn”. Together, turnip means round plant. Even though, its name signifies it is a plant but scientists after conducting many kinds of research had found that turnip is belonging to the vegetable species.

Turnip is rich in calcium and many vitamins which are helpful in faster digestion. They are nutritional boosters, provide protection against harmful bacteria, and are used as anticancer medicines. The greens present in the turnip are very helpful to our skins. They help us to maintain healthy and smooth skin and are also vital for healthy hair growth.

Mostly, people consume turnip after cooking it but it is highly advised to eat raw turnip as salads because when turnip is cooked, the green leaves of turnip are either cut or they lose their nutrients while cooking. Hence, turnips are very essential to our overall body health.

What is Radish?

A radish is a root plant belonging to the Raphanus genus. They are mostly grown in winter climates. The gestation period for the radish is around 22-25 days and requires sandy loam soil rich in high organic matter contents and sufficient water.

One of the advantages of growing radish is it does not require much water and grows in the cool season. Seeds of the radish germinate in 2-3 days and radish will be available for harvesting within the next 20 days. Thus the gestation period for growing radish is very less.

Radish is rich in calcium, minerals, and potassium and hence they are used as anti-oxidants. Radish is rich in vitamin C and is helpful in strengthening our bones. There are many nutrients present in radish and these nutrients help to decrease the chances of heart diseases and result in improved blood flow.

It is also advised that consuming a moderate amount of radish is good for health as consuming a lot of radishes creates problems in our digestive system. Hence, radish is good for health when it is consumed in a moderate amount and they improve the overall health of our body as they are rich in fiber, phosphorous, and calcium, etc.

Main Differences Between Turnip and Radish

  • Turnip is a root vegetable while radish is a root plant.
  • Turnip belongs to the Brassica genus while radish belongs to the Raphanus genus.
  • Turnip usually growns in a moderate climate occuring in the middle of the latitude and has gestation period of about 60 days while radish grows in a cool seasons and has gestation period of about 22-25 days. Hence, it is easy to grow radish than turnip.
  • Turnip are rich in calcium, vitamins and is helpful in proper digestion of the body while radish is rich in calcium, phosphorous and fibre and they are used as anti-oxidants.
  • Radish has a crunchy structure and sweet taste while turnip is milder in flavour. Radish is bitter at first and gets sweeter as it gets older while turnip is sweeter at first and gets bitter as it grows older.
  • Conclusion

    Both radish and turnip share a similar structure, texture, nutrients, and taste, etc. They contribute a lot to our overall body health such as digestion, preventing heart diseases, improving the blood flow, and strengthening our bones, etc.

    Radish is sweet and crunchy in taste and they get sweeter when it gets older but turnip is spicy and milder in taste and they get better as it gets older. Both share the same structure but turnip is slightly bigger than radish.

    Hence, it is essential to consume both turnip and radish in moderate amounts and get benefitted from all the nutrients available in them.

    References

  • https://aocs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1007/BF02532563
  • https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-540-34536-7_3
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