Turnips

Turnips are grown as a root vegetable or for their green leaves, Turnips are a cool-season crop; they grow and taste best when they come to harvest in cool weather. For a late spring harvest, sow turnip seeds directly in the garden 2 to 3 weeks before the average last frost date in spring. The soil must be at least 40°F for germination. Seeds will germinate and seedlings will appear in about 7 days. Sow turnips in late summer for autumn harvest or in early autumn for late autumn harvest. Turnips grow to maturity in 2 to 3 months depending on the variety. 

For Self Sufficiency: plant 5 to 10 plants per household member.

Planting Turnips

• Grow turnips in full sun or partial shade.
• Plant turnips in well-drained soil rich in organic matter with a soil pH of 6.5 to 7.0.
• Prepare planting beds in advance by removing all rocks and obstacles and applying garden compost and well-aged manure. Work the soil to about 8 inches deep then rake it smooth.
• Heavy clay soil can be lightened with the addition of aged compost, sand, and perlite.
• Add sand or gypsum to heavy, clay soil or prepare beds by planting green manure and working it into the beds the season before seeding.
• Add wood ashes to the soil to fend off wireworms.
• Turnips are a cool-weather crop that requires 30 to 60 days to come to harvest.
• Turnips grow best in temperatures from 40°F to 75°F .
• Turnips will have the best flavor and texture when grown quickly at temperatures between 60°F and 65°F.
• Turnips can be sown in spring, but are best harvested before temperatures exceed 75°F as hot weather will cause roots to become woody. So, a fall harvest is best. For a fall harvest, sow turnip seeds about 9 weeks before the first expected frost. In 2023, in zone 7, the expected first frost date is October 23, so turnip seeds should be sown by August 21.
• Turnips do not transplant well. It is best to direct sow seeds in the garden.
• Sow turnip seed directly in the garden ½ inch deep and 1 inch apart in wide rows
• When the first true leaves appear, thin successful seedlings to stand 4 to 6 inches apart for root harvest. Thinnings can be used in salads.
• Grow 9 turnips per square foot.
• Small turnip roots can be grown in wide containers at least 8 to 12 inches deep.
• Sow seeds 1 inch apart, then thin turnips to 2 inches apart.
• You can grow 3 turnips in a 12-inch pot.

Turnip Companion Plants

• Grow turnips with bush beans, peas, and black-eyed peas.
• Keep turnips away from mustard and potatoes.

Watering Turnips

• Keep the soil moist to keep turnips growing as fast as possible. Do not let the soil dry out. Growth becomes checked if the soil dries out.
• Lack of moisture will cause turnip root growth to slow; roots will become woody and strong flavored if growth is not quick and consistent.
• Water at the base of plants; overhead watering will leave turnip tops, turnip leaves susceptible to fungal diseases.
• Give turnips from 1 inch to 2 inches of water each week. One inch of water equals 16 gallons.

Feeding Turnips

• Side dress plants with well-aged compost at planting time and again at midseason.
• Side-dress turnips with aged compost or apply manure tea at midseason.
• Turnips can be fed with a mild, balanced, all-purpose organic fertilizer with an NPK of 5-10-10. Fertilizer can be added to the soil ahead of planting or as a side dressing when plants are about 6 inches tall. Follow the label directions when applying fertilizer.
• Avoid feeding turnips with a high-nitrogen fertilizer which will aid green growth but not root growth, unless you are growing them for their greens, in which case you would fertilize with a nitrogen-rich liquid fertilizer such as fish emulsion.

Turnip Care

• Overcrowding turnips may cause small roots.
• Mulch turnips with straw to protect the root tops from sunburn and to conserve soil moisture.

Harvesting Turnips

• Turnips come to harvest 30 to 60 days after sowing.
• Harvest turnips roots when they are 2 to 3 inches in diameter; lift them carefully with a garden fork. 
• Harvest all turnip roots before the first hard freeze unless you protect roots with a thick mulch. A light frost will not harm turnip tops and will sweeten the roots. However, freezing and thawing through the winter will ruin the roots. Harvest the tops before the first hard freeze.
• If you are growing turnips only for the greens, turnip greens can be harvested as soon as they are edible size, about 4 inches tall and leaves can be harvested when they are 12 inches long. Thinned seedlings can be harvested for greens.

Storing and Preserving Turnips

• Store the fall crop under cool 32°F to 40°F, moist conditions–about 90 percent humidity. Turnip roots will keep for 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator in a plastic bag or keep roots in a cold, moist place for 4 to 5 months without refrigeration.
• Turnip greens will keep in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
• Cooked turnips can be frozen for up to 6 months.