Turnip Growing Guide

Brassica rapa subsp. rapa

Turnip

Crop Rotation Group

Brassicas (Cabbage family) 

Soil

Any reasonably fertile well-drained soil.

Position

Sun or partial shade.

Frost tolerant

Light frost improves flavor, but can be damaged by hard freezes.

Feeding

Not usually required.

Spacing

Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 5" (15cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Sow seeds in rows in spring, and use roots in salads. Grow a second crop in fall, and use both roots and greens in cooking.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Keep watered in dry weather.

Harvesting

Pick individual leaves for cooking greens, or pull whole plants to harvest roots. Fall-grown turnips can be stored in a cool root cellar for several weeks.

Troubleshooting

Spring crops bolt to seed quickly, so pull them when the roots are perfect.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Plant Diseases which Affect Turnip