How To Plant Turnip Greens - Seniorcare2share

Quick Guide to Growing Turnip Greens Plant your fall turnip greens from late August to October; for a spring crop, plant 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost. Space these easy-to-grow greens 6 inches apart in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.8.

How deep do you plant turnip greens?

Sow seed directly in the garden ½ inch (12mm) deep and 1 inch (2.5cm) apart in wide rows, thin successful seedlings from 4 to 6 inches (10-15cm) apart. Space wide rows 12 to 24 inches (30-61cm) apart. Thin turnips grown for greens from 2 to 3 inches (5-7cm) apart. Companion plants.

How long does it take turnip greens to grow?

The cool-weather plants will tolerate frosts, but get tough and bitter in hot weather; making them best planted in late spring and early summer, and again in late summer and fall. Because the plants are ready to harvest within six or eight weeks, for the longest fresh harvest plant new seeds every two or three weeks.

What is the proper way to plant turnips?

Turnips are seeded directly into the garden; they do not transplant well. Sow seeds ¼ to ½ of an inch deep, 1 inch apart, in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. You can also scatter turnip seed and cover the seeds with no more than ½ an inch of soil. Water well and consistently.

What is the best fertilizer for turnip greens?

Mix well-rotted manure or compost into the soil before you plant turnips for their greens. If you don’t have compost, mix about 1/4 cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer into the soil for every 10 feet of plants. The fertilizer numbers indicate the ratio, by weight, of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

What is the best time to plant turnip greens?

Do you soak turnip seeds before planting?

Still, I like to mix in standard application of a balanced organic fertilizer, watered in well, before planting turnip seeds. Additionally, deeply soaking the prepared bed helps encourage strong germination. In beds or rows, the only trick to getting turnip seeds to germinate is to keep them moist for about three days.

Why are my turnips not growing?

Heavy Soil: Turnips prefer fairly light soil. If your soil is too heavy, dense, or rocky, the root may not develop well. Depending on your conditions, you may find your turnips do better in a raised bed filled with quality soil. Transplantation: Turnips have little tolerance for transplanting.

Do turnips need full sun?

Turnips generally require a full sun location but will tolerate partial shade, especially if you plan on harvesting the plant for its greens. Preparing the bed to grow turnip plants in is easy.

How do you grow turnips in pots?

Use a container with a soil capacity of at least about 2 gallons and a depth of at least 12 inches. Be sure the planted container has a drainage hole in the bottom. You can easily grow Turnips in containers and the small Turnips roots can be easily grown in at least 12 inches deep and wide containers.

Why are my turnip greens turning yellow?

Turnips and related vegetables are susceptible to a manganese deficiency. This type of deficiency is indicated by a general yellowing of foliage that first appears in the middle of the growing season.

Can turnip seedlings be transplanted?

Turnips do not transplant well; start seeds directly in the garden. Plant seeds 1 inch apart and ¼ – ½ inch deep. Turnip seeds germinate quickly. Thin seedlings to 3-4 inches apart (depending on the variety) when they are 2-3 inches tall.

What to plant after turnips?

Turnips are natural aphid repellents, protecting a wide variety of garden crops that are vulnerable to aphid invasion. Squash, tomatoes, celery, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, beans, onions, garlic, lettuce, Swiss chard, spinach, cauliflower, and radishes all flourish when planted interspersed with turnips.

Do turnips come back every year?

A true biennial, the turnip requires a vernalization, or cooling period, before producing blooms and seeds in its second year.

How do you keep bugs off turnip greens?

A homemade horticultural oil can be made from soybean oil mixed with liquid dish-washing soap to suffocate the bugs. Some people simply spray them off with a hose. But if you do this, make sure to also remove them from the ground beneath the plant.

Do turnips need lime?

Turnips grow best in mildly acidic soils, with an ideal pH between 6.0 and 6.5. If necessary, you can raise the pH of your soil by incorporating lime into the soil. You can also lower the pH by incorporating sulfur or a sulfur compound like aluminum sulfate.

What kind of soil do turnips like?

Soil. Turnips prefer a slightly acidic soil pH in the range of 6.0 to 6.5. Good soil fertility will help them grow quickly. Make sure the soil is well-draining so the roots don’t rot.

Can you eat turnip leaves?

Turnip greens are part of the cruciferous vegetable family, as are kale and broccoli. They are high in nutrients and low in calories. Both the root and the leaves of the turnip are edible, but turnip greens refer specifically to the stem and leafy green part of the plant.

At what temperature do turnips germinate?

Germination temperature: 45 F to 85 F – Will germinate at soil temperatures as low as 40 F. Seed can be saved 4 years. Maintenance and care: From early spring to late summer, sow seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep, 1 inch apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart.

How can you tell when turnips are ready to harvest?

Turnips are ready to harvest 40 to 55 days after planting. If harvesting the leaves, they are ready when they reach 4-6 inches in height. If only harvesting the leaves, cut them from the plant when they reach the desired size, leaving 1 inch of leaves above the crown of the plant. More leaves will grow in their place.

Do turnip seeds need light to germinate?

Grow turnips in full sun for best yield; turnips tolerate partial shade. Avoid planting turnips where potatoes have grown recently. Fertilize with an organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion at half strength. Common pest enemies are aphids, flea beetles, and cabbage root maggots.

Do you need to dry seeds before planting?

Seeds need to properly mature, the seed coating needs to dry and cure, and they need a rest period prior to planting. That way you don’t have an impermeable seed coat that will not allow water in and will grow foul and rotten before the embryo can germinate.