Gilfeather

Roots are white with green tops. Some roots also have light purple on the shoulders. Roots are round and nicely shaped with little forking. Moderately smooth skin. Most roots have longitudinal grooves. White flesh color. Standard flavor and texture. Roots reach 5-7in long; 5-6in wide; and weigh up to 4 pounds. Roots are half-buried in the soil. Brix score: 10.0. Plants have large, broad leaves and grow 1.5-2ft tall and 2.5-3.5ft wide. This variety as donated to SSE by William and Mary Lou Schmidt of Dummerston, VT. As described in the 1981 "Horticulture Magazine" article by Gordon Hayward, the Schmidts originally received seeds of this variety in 1975 from a neighbor named Cliff Emery who called it the Gilfeather turnip and who said it had been grown in southeastern Vermont for as long as he could remember. After connecting with Dr. Courtney Bishop who lived at Gilfeather Farm in Wardsboro, VT, Bishop told the Schmidts that this variety was original developed by John Gilfeather, a farmer from Wardsboro, VT and son of Irish immigrants. It's unclear when Gilfeather developed the variety, but some folks at that time remembered Gilfeather hauling a wagon loaded with turnips down to Brattleboro for sale each October. Gilfeather passed away in 1944 at the age of 79. (Botanically this variety is a rutabaga. Previously distributed by SSE as TURNIP 6 'Gilfeather'). SSE Accession # 127628