Growing Turnips: Quick-Growing Root Vegetable for Spring and Fall

Turnips are a delicious, fast-maturing root vegetable perfect for home gardens. Crestock

Turnips are easy to grow when timed right, maturing in just two months. Though biennials, they're grown as annuals. While a staple in European kitchens, many southern gardeners prize them for nutritious greens. Turnips prefer temperate climates but tolerate light frost. Fall crops are sweeter, more tender, and face fewer pests than spring plantings. Cultivated for over 3,000 years, turnips are uniquely valuable—both the swollen root and greens are edible, and they often substitute for potatoes.

Planting

• Choose a full-sun site.
• Soil should be well-drained and loosened to 12–15 inches deep.
• Incorporate a 2–4 inch layer of compost; till thoroughly.
• Sow as soon as soil is workable.
• Scatter seeds and cover with no more than ½ inch of soil.
• When seedlings reach 4 inches, thin "early" types to 2–4 inches apart and maincrop types to 6 inches. Don't thin if growing solely for greens.

Care

• Keep beds weed-free.
• Mulch heavily.
• Water 1 inch per week to prevent tough, bitter roots.

Pests and Diseases

• Root Maggots
• Flea Beetles
• Powdery Mildew
• Downy Mildew
• Aphids

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest some early as turnip greens.
• Early types ready in ~5 weeks; maincrop in 6–10 weeks.
• Harvest at any size—young turnips are tender and mild.
• Pull mature roots before they turn woody and before first frost.
• Store up to 3–4 months in a cool outdoor location covered with straw.

Recommended Varieties

• 'Just Right'
• 'Purple Top White Globe'
• For Upper Midwest: 'Green Globe' and 'York Globe'
• For greens: most any variety works

Wit & Wisdom

Turnips like a dry bed but a wet head.

Young turnips are so tender you can peel and eat them like an apple.

Turnips are often confused with rutabagas—they're similar and grow well together, but rutabagas take four weeks longer to mature.

Many grow turnips primarily for greens, which excel cooked or in salads.

For other culinary greens, see our Leafy Greens: Health Benefits page.

Recipes

• Turnip Soup
• Eastham Turnip Pie
• Turnip Creme Brulee
• Turnip Souffle

Cooking Notes

Wondering how to cook turnips? Both roots and greens are highly nutritious. Peel and slice roots before use. Both parts are typically cooked.