Turnip Garden Guide

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Turnip

Turnip Stat Summary

Plant Spacing: 4-6" (101-152 mm)
Row Spacing: 12-22" (304-558 mm)
Planting Depth: 1/4" (6 mm)
Plants Per Person: 4
Soil Temperature: 45-85°F (7-29°C)
Days to Emergence: 4-7
Recommended Soil PH: 6.0-7.5
Earliest Outdoor Planting: Before Last Frost
Tick Can direct seed outdoors

Planting Turnip

Turnips are fast growing and require a fertile, well dug, well drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Plant in either early spring or fall; the fall crop is usually larger and of better quality. Sow seeds 1 inch apart into 1/4 inch deep furrows that are 12 to 22 inches apart; keep seedbed moist. When seedlings are about 4 inches tall thin them to 4 to 6 inches apart in the row.

Growing Turnip

Mulch to keep the soil cool and moist. Pull weeds that appear in the row before they become too large.

Harvesting and Storing Turnip

Pick individual leaves for cooking greens before the roots are ready. Ideally, turnips should be harvested when the roots reach 2 to 3 inches wide; loosen soil around the turnip to pull from ground then twist off the tops, leaving about an inch of the stem. Unwashed trimmed roots can be stored in a cool basement, root cellar, or refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Turnip Insect and Disease Information

Cover rows with with an insect barrier to reduce root maggots. Row covers prevent flies from laying eggs at the base of developing plants.

Turnip Yield Information

No yield information for Turnip.