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Planting. Plant turnips and mustards as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. The seeds will sprout if the soil temperature is 40 degrees F or higher. For a fall crop, start planting 8 to 10 weeks before the first expected frost.
What month do you plant turnips?
Turnip greens are easy to grow in any well-drained soil. Set out turnip green plants 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost in spring and from late August to October for a fall crop in most areas. In zones 9 and 10 they can be planted throughout fall and winter.
Is turnips easy to grow?
Fast-maturing and easy to grow, turnips always emerge as stars in the autumn garden. Sown after summer crops of onions, squash, beans or sweet corn, turnip seeds germinate within days, and tender greens are ready to pick within a month. Juicy roots come later, and you can grow turnips for greens, roots, or both.
Will turnips come back every year?
This plant family is known for its rapid cool season growth and high yields. The brassica family includes crops such as radish, kale, rutabaga, rapeseed, and broccoli. Like others in this vast family, turnips are a cool season annual and grow best during the cooler periods of the year.
Will turnips grow in hot weather?
Turnips will grow in spring or fall weather; they do not like hot summer months. Note that an autumn crop, seeded in late summer, is usually sweeter and more tender than a spring crop—and pests are less of a problem.
How long does it take turnips to grow from seed?
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.
How long does it take for turnips to grow?
Turnip roots generally take 50 to 60 days to produce. Harvest turnip greens by pulling the entire plant when the leaves are 4 to 6 inches long (Fig.
How many turnips does a plant produce?
Thin seedlings to 3-4 inches apart (depending on the variety) when they are 2-3 inches tall. Use row covers to protect young plants from flea beetles and root maggots. What is this? For square foot gardening, plant 9 turnips per square foot.
Do turnips need full sun to grow?
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. apart to give the plants plenty of room to form good roots.
Can you plant turnips in July?
Planting and Care Turnips take about two months to ripen, so time your planting according to your desired harvest time. For example, turnips planted in May ripen in July, and an August planting ripens in October.
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.
At what temperature do turnips germinate?
Germination takes 7–10 days at an optimum soil temperature between 65–85° F. Thin seedlings to 3–4 inches apart to harvest roots, or allow them to remain crowded if you primarily desire the leafy greens.
Can turnips handle frost?
Root crops like carrots, turnips, beets, rutabagas and parsnips can remain in the garden after a frost and still be removed in good condition later, but get them dug and stored before the ground freezes.
Do deer eat turnips?
The cool thing about planting turnips in your food plot is the deer love to eat both the leafy tops and the taproots (or the turnip). Turnips are a cool-season annual that are extremely high in protein and highly digestible to deer. Protein content can range from 15 to 20 percent in both the leaves and the roots.
How much water do turnips need?
Water. At least 1 inch of water per week is vital for good root development. Turnips need to grow quickly, and regular water along with a rich soil, will help them do that.
What is the best fertilizer for turnips?
To get the biggest, tastiest turnips in your home garden, amend your soil with nutrient-rich fertilizer before and after planting. Spread 2 to 4 inches of composted organic matter over 100 square feet of soil. Apply 2 to 4 cups of all-purpose fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, 10-20-10 or 16-16-8, per 100 square feet.
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.
Why are my turnips all tops?
Too Much Nitrogen: Soil too rich in nitrogen tends to give turnips with an abundance of foliage, but an underdeveloped root. This could have happened if you applied a very nitrogen-rich fertilizer or a heavy application of fresh manure or compost.
How long can turnips stay in the ground?
They do rot after one week, so if you lose track of them after putting them in the ground, those Bells will be wasted and your storage efforts will be for nothing. Like we suggested to do inside the house, you may as well design parts of your island around turnips if you plan on keeping a lot of them.
How long does it take turnip roots to grow?
30-60 days Plant Type: Biennial cole crop, generally grown as an annual Water Needs: Time to Maturity: 30-60 days Companion Planting: Spacing: 4-6 inches Avoid Planting With: Planting Depth: 1/2 inch Family: Height: 12-14 inches Genus:.
