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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.
What is the best time to plant turnip greens?
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. In South Texas and coastal areas, turnips and mustard grow well all winter.
How long does it take to grow turnip greens?
Harvesting. Depending on the cultivar, turnip greens take about 45 days to mature. Some cultivars are cut-and-come-again, which means you can pick the leaves, and new ones will pop up.
Does frost hurt turnip greens?
Colder temperatures (26-31 degrees F.) may burn foliage but will not kill broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, lettuce, mustard, onion, radish, and turnip. The real cold weather champs are beets, Brussels sprouts, carrots, collards, kale, parsley, and spinach.
Can I plant turnip greens now?
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.
Is it too late to plant turnip greens?
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. Like collards, kale, and other greens, turnip greens need to grow fast to produce nice, tender leaves.
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 tall do turnip greens grow?
Turnip Plant Profile Botanical Name Brassica rapa Plant Type Annual vegetable Mature Size 12–18 in. tall; 6- to 8-in. spread Sun Exposure Full sun to part shade Soil Type Sandy, well-draining.
Do you need to fertilize turnip greens?
How to Plant Turnips. Before planting, mix in a nice low organic fertilizer (such as a 5-5-5) about 12 inches into the soil. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen or you’ll get leafy greens at the expense of a big root. Avoid a Miracle Gro or any high-nitrogen fertilizer.
How cold can turnip greens tolerate?
Hardy vegetables are those that can survive temperatures as low as 20˚F before finally being killed. These vegetables include cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, kale, leeks, rutabagas and turnips. Upon thawing out, these hardy vegetables will continue to grow between freezes.
Will turnips survive a hard freeze?
Turnips withstand frost well and don’t need to be dug until the ground freezes. Therefore, if you are not in danger of a freeze, you can seed them late for a late fall or early winter harvest.
Will mustard greens survive a freeze?
Mustard greens tolerate frosts and brief temperature dips into the 20’s, but succumb to hard freezes. Like other greens, cold sweetens their flavor.
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 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. Keep evenly moist to grow the crop fast and tender.
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 grow 7 turnip greens?
Choose a location with rich well-drained soil that receives six to eight hours of full sunlight per day. Loosen the soil to a depth of one foot and rake smooth. Sow seeds directly into the garden as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. Seeds should be sown one-half inch deep and one-half to one inch apart.
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 deer like turnip greens?
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.
