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What is the best time to plant turnip greens?
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.
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.
How long does it take to grow turnip from seed?
Optimal soil temperature for germination: 18-21°C (66-70°F). Seeds should sprout in 7-14 days.
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.
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.
How often do you water turnips?
Turnips do not need much care, but consistent soil moisture is important. Water regularly to keep soil lightly moist; 1 inch per week should prevent roots from becoming tough and bitter.
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.
How many seeds are in a hole?
Don’t exceed three seeds per hole. If more than one germinates, snip off extras at the soil line also. This prevents disturbance of the seedling roots on the one you’ll continue growing out when thinning. Don’t add more than one large seed to a hole.
Should all seeds be soaked before planting?
Soak the seeds for any longer and they might rot. The seeds swell as water penetrates the seed coat and the embryo inside begins to plump up. I presoak just about everything except for the tiniest seeds. But I’m always careful not to presoak my seeds until the night before planting them in pots or in the garden.
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.
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.
Will turnips grow in hot weather?
The seeds require 50 F temperatures to germinate, and the roots grow the most toward the end of their development in soil temperatures between 40 and 60 F. Summer temperatures in temperate Mediterranean climates, however, facilitate turnip growth just fine.
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.
Will turnip greens grow back?
Turnips planted near one another produce loads of greens if the greens are picked frequently. New growth sprouts up after each picking. You can pick the leaves individually by hand or cut them in bunches with a knife. If cut back to 2 inches from the top of the root, new leaves will appear in two to three weeks.
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.
Are turnips hard to grow?
Growing and maintaining turnips is pretty easy. They are fast growing, reliable, and relatively low maintenance. It is not necessary to fertilize plants once they are in the ground since they grow so quickly. As long as the soil is rich in organic material when you sow the seeds, they should be happy.
How do you know when turnips are ready?
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.
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.
