Growing Turnips: The Complete Guide to Planting, Growing, and Caring for Healthy Roots
Turnips (Brassica rapa) are easy to grow and give you two harvests from one plant. You can eat the round turnip roots and the tender turnip leaves. Because they mature quickly, growing turnips is a good project for new gardeners. This guide explains how to grow turnips, from planting seeds to harvesting healthy roots and greens.
When to Plant Turnips
Turnips prefer cool weather. Plant a spring crop in early spring, as soon as you can work the soil. For a fall crop, sow seeds in late summer, counting backward from your first expected hard freeze.
Gardeners often ask when to plant turnips, when to plant turnip, when do you plant turnips, and when to grow turnips. The simple answer is to give the plants time to mature during cool conditions. Heat and dry soil can make roots bitter or woody.
For more seasonal ideas, read about the benefits of adding cool-season vegetables to your garden and review the November Gardening Checklist.
How to Plant Turnips
Turnips grow best in full sun and loose, drained soil. Before planting turnips, remove stones and mix compost or other organic matter into the top layer of soil. So, how do you plant turnips? Directly sow turnip seed where the plants will grow. Turnips do not need to be started indoors.
Planting Turnip Seeds
To learn how to plant turnip seeds, follow these simple steps:
- Plant seeds about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep.
- Space them about 1 inch apart.
- Keep the bed moist until they sprout.
- When seedlings are about an inch tall, begin thinning the seedlings.
- Leave 3 to 6 inches between plants, depending on the root size you want.
These steps answer common questions about how to plant turnips, how to plant turnip, and turnip planting. Direct planting turnip seeds also protects the young roots from transplant damage. University of Minnesota Extension recommends thinning turnips to about 3 to 6 inches apart.
Browse Grow Organic's turnip seeds for planting when planning your spring or fall garden.
Growing Turnips From Seed
Growing turnips from seed is usually simple. If you are learning how to grow turnips from seed, keep the soil evenly moist during germination and throughout the growing season.
As the turnips growing underground become larger, check the shoulders of the roots at soil level. Lack of water can lead to tough, bitter, or undersized roots.
Flea beetles may chew tiny holes in young leaves. Protect seedlings with a lightweight row cover before pests arrive. OSU Extension lists row covers as one useful way to limit early flea beetle damage.
These basic steps explain both how do you grow turnips and how to grow turnips with smooth, tender roots.
Growing and Harvesting Turnip Greens
For growing turnip greens, use the same planting times as roots. Questions such as when plant turnip greens, planting turnip greens, and how to grow turnip greens all have a similar answer: sow during cool weather and keep the soil moist.
Begin harvesting turnip greens once the plants have several usable leaves. Pick a few outer leaves and leave the center intact. Removing too many leaves can slow root growth.
When to Harvest Turnips
How long do turnips take to grow? Many varieties mature in roughly 35 to 60 days, although the seed packet gives the best timing for your chosen variety. The questions how long does it take for turnips to grow and how long to grow turnips from seeds depend on weather, variety, spacing, and care.
You can harvest turnips once they reach a useful size. Most remain tender when they are about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Larger roots may become stronger in flavor or woody.
Turnip Seeds to Try
- Purple Top White Globe Turnip Seeds produce round roots with crisp white flesh and a light sweetness.
- Fort Umpqua Turnip Seeds produce mild roots and tender greens for spring or fall planting.
- Tokyo Market Turnip Seeds grow mild, sweet roots that work well fresh or cooked.
- Organic Golden Globe Turnip has golden-yellow flesh with a mild, sweet flavor.
Conclusion
Good soil, cool temperatures, steady moisture, and proper spacing are the keys to healthy roots. Once you understand how to grow turnips from seed, this quick crop can provide fresh roots and greens during both spring and fall.
