How to grow turnip
Family Brassicaceae. Hardy to USDA hardiness zone 3a+ (U.S. Department of Agriculture). Full sun. Ready in 40-60 days.
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
4-6 in
Days to harvest
40-60 days
Hardiness
Zone 3a+
What growers actually recorded
Loading zone 7b results…
When to plant turnip
- Direct sow: ~-4 weeks after last frost.
Companion plants for turnip
Plant with: Pea, Onion, Lettuce, Thyme.
Avoid near: Potato, Other brassicas in the same bed.
Common pests & problems
Flea beetle on young greens, root maggot, aphid.
Feeding & fertilizer
N-P-K ratio: High N (10-5-5): heavy feeders
Organic options: Aged manure or compost worked in deep · Blood meal or feather meal side-dress at 3 wks · Fish emulsion every 2 wks
When to feed: Feed heavily every 2-3 weeks. Brassicas want steady nitrogen for tight heads.
Watch for: Pale/yellow leaves = needs N. Loose heads = feed harder next round.
N = nitrogen (leaves), P = phosphorus (roots and flowers), K = potassium (fruit and disease resistance). How to read a fertilizer label →
Grower's tip
Two crops in one: harvest greens as you thin, then pull roots at 2-3 in across. Larger than 3 in and they turn woody and hot.
When to plant turnip in your zone
Free month-by-month sowing and transplanting lists, built from frost dates for your USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) hardiness zone.
Soil & water for turnip
Soil & pH
6.5-7.5: near neutral (raises club-root resistance)
Fertile loam with strong drainage. Firm soil beats fluffy for heading brassicas.
Compost 2 in + 1 cup of alfalfa or feather meal per 10 sq ft. Lime if pH is under 6.5. It also blocks club-root.
Watering
1-1.5 in / week, consistent
Ground-level drip. Uneven water during heading = split heads or bolting.
Lift an edge of the row and check soil at 3 inches. If it clings in a damp ball, hold off. If it crumbles, water until the top 6 inches are evenly moist.
Knowing when to harvest
- Roots reach 2-3 in across for the sweetest, most tender texture; larger roots turn woody.
- Greens can be cut at 4-6 in tall well before the root matures.
- Pull a test root; skin should be smooth and firm, not cracked or spongy.
Storing & keeping
Cut tops off, store roots in damp sand or a perforated bag at 32-40°F, 90-95% humidity for 4-5 months. Greens are more perishable: refrigerate and use within a week.
What to expect
Per plant: 1 root, 0.25-0.5 lb plus greens
Per sq ft: 9-16 roots per sq ft
Troubleshooting turnip
Woody, fibrous roots
Likely cause: Left in the ground too long or grown in a hot, dry stretch
What to do: Harvest at 2-3 in diameter and keep soil evenly moist during root swell.
Flea beetle shot-holes in leaves
Likely cause: Flea beetles, worst on young seedlings
What to do: Row cover from sowing; established plants tolerate more damage.
Varieties worth growing
Purple Top White Globe
The standard dual-purpose turnip for both roots and greens.
Hakurei
Salad turnip eaten raw, sweet and crisp with no need to cook.
Shogoin
Grown primarily for its abundant, tender greens.
Growing turnip in containers
12 in deep pot works for roots; shallower trays are fine if grown only for greens.
Nutrition
Sulforaphane, glucosinolates, vitamin K, calcium. Brassicas are the vegetable powerhouse.
Common questions
Can I eat turnip greens and roots from the same plant?
Yes, but if planning to harvest both, take only a few outer leaves so the root still has enough foliage to size up.
Why are my turnips spicy and hot?
Heat and drought stress concentrate mustard-oil compounds. Consistent watering produces milder roots.
Where these numbers come from
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Zone assignment and the 30-year normals behind every cold-hardiness figure.
- NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals. Frost dates, growing-season length, and the probability bands on both.
- Cornell, UMN, and UC Davis Cooperative Extension crop guides. Spacing, days to maturity, soil pH targets, and per-plant yield ranges.
- USDA FSIS / FDA Produce Safety guidance. Wash, cure, and cold-storage handling numbers.
Ranges are regional guidance, not a promise for your yard. Your own logged results always override the published range.