Table of Contents
When to Plant Turnips For a late spring harvest, sow turnip seeds about 2 to 3 weeks before the average last spring frost date. For an autumn harvest, sow turnips in late summer. Sow after summer crops of onions, squash, beans or sweet corn. You can also sow seeds in early autumn for a late autumn harvest.
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.
When can I plant turnip seedlings outside?
Sow Early turnips – sow March to June, for harvesting throughout summer. Maincrop turnips – sow July to mid-August, for harvesting in autumn and winter.
Should I 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 late can you sow turnips?
You can sow as early as late February under a cloche and as late as August. Give maincrop varieties that are sown in July and August a larger spacing of 10 inches (25cm) to allow for a larger root to develop. These can be harvested during November and December.
How long does it take for turnips to germinate?
Whether you grow turnips for the roots or the greens, germinating the seeds is the first step. When done properly, the seedlings emerge within four to seven days.
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.
What is the best way to sow turnip seeds?
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 a good companion plant for turnips?
Turnips Are Terrific Companions Squash, tomatoes, celery, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, beans, onions, garlic, lettuce, Swiss chard, spinach, cauliflower, and radishes all flourish when planted interspersed with turnips. Turnips are “best buddies” with nitrogen-fixing peas.
Will turnips grow in shade?
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.
Can I transplant turnip seedlings?
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.
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.
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.
Is it too late to plant turnip seeds?
Turnips are cool-weather plants that can be sown in late winter, spring, or late summer to give them the two months they need to mature before it gets too hot or freezes.
How much space do you need between turnips?
Plant seeds one to two inches apart in rows 18 to 30 inches apart. Thin turnip seedlings leaving three to six inches between plants. Thin rutabagas to an eight-inch spacing. Drought stress can make turnips and rutabagas bitter or woody.
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.
Do turnips need full sun?
Grow turnips in full sun or partial shade. Plant turnips in well-drained soil rich in organic matter with a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.8. Prepare planting beds in advance by applying garden compost and well-aged manure.
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.
What do turnips look like when they start to grow?
Turnip leaves are light green and slightly hairy. They grow into an elongated oval, with toothed or wavy edges. Turnip roots are generally either white or yellow, with the part that protrudes above ground purple or green thanks to sun exposure. If allowed to bolt, turnip flowers are small and yellow.
What animals eat turnips?
Beginning in the 1600s, turnips were grown extensively in England for winter feeding of sheep and cattle, as a pasture crop for pigs, and winter fodder for sows.
Do turnips need frost?
Because turnip plants grow best in cool temperatures, and can tolerate frost and light freezes, seeds are best sown in late winter or spring for harvest before it gets very hot and roots get tough and bitter, or in the late summer or fall to harvest before a hard freeze kills the plants.
How long can I leave turnips in the ground?
While spring-planted turnips should not stay in the ground until winter, summer-planted crops can usually be made to last until late fall or winter. Turnips withstand frost well and don’t need to be dug until the ground freezes.
Can I plant turnips with cucumbers?
Root vegetables. This means that cucumbers won’t interfere with the growing of root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, radishes, and turnips if you plant them nearby since root vegetables grow primarily beneath the soil and will make use of space that the cucumbers don’t need.
Can you plant turnips and peas together?
Green beans: Peas and green beans require similar growing conditions, making them good companions to plant together. Turnips: Peas and turnips have a symbiotic relationship, as peas enrich the soil around turnips with beneficial nitrogen, and turnips act as a natural repellent to harmful aphids.
