How to Plant and Grow Turnips for Their Tasty Greens and Roots

These easy planting tips on how to grow turnips will help you grow flavorful roots and greens in your garden.

Turnips are one of the best types of root vegetables to grow in your garden. This annual comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Whether you grow round, flat, or cylindrical varieties, you’ll love its smooth white or yellow exterior with or without green, red, or purple near its top. And you don’t have to wait long to experience its mild, sweet flavor because this fast-growing vegetable can be harvested in six weeks from sowing seeds. Here’s what you need to know about growing turnips to enjoy both their flavorful greens and roots.

Where to Plant Turnips

Plant turnips either in garden beds or large containers. Sow the seeds in well-drained soil in a location that gets at least six to eight hours of sun per day.

How and When to Plant Turnips

The flavor of turnips is best when they mature in cool weather. Plant turnip in early spring or late summer to take advantage of cool soil temperatures.

For the best-tasting turnip crop and the best-storing turnips, sow the seeds ½ inch deep and 1 inch apart. Thin them to 2–4 inches apart in rows 1½ feet apart in mid-summer (early to mid-August) or 60 to 70 days before your area’s first average frost date in fall.

For spring plantings: Sow seeds three weeks before your area’s last frost date in spring. This will give you an early summer turnip harvest.

Turnip Care Tips

Turnips are easy to grow. The seeds germinate fast, and the plants aren’t very demanding. For best results, thin turnip seedlings to 3–4 inches apart when they are 4 inches tall. The thinnings can be eaten as microgreens.

Light

Turnips grow best in full sun. They can tolerate part shade, but plants will not be as robust or bushy as those grown in full sun. For the best results, plant turnips where they will get at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.

Soil and Water

Turnips thrive in fertile, well-drained soil. Before planting turnips, add a 2-inch-thick layer of compost to the growing location to create a foundation for vigorous plants. 

To ensure rapid growth and the best flavor, keep your garden’s soil evenly moist by watering around turnip plants with at least 1 inch of water per week. The more the soil dries out, the more pungent flavor the turnips will take on. Avoid splashing water onto the leaves as much as possible to prevent leaf diseases.

Apply a layer of mulch, such as straw, around the roots to maintain soil moisture, keep the soil cool, and deter weeds.

Temperature and Humidity

Cool weather is the key to growing flavorful turnips. Plant turnip seeds in early spring or late summer to take advantage of cool soil temperatures. Warm temperatures cause turnips to acquire a bitter flavor.

Turnip roots can be stored for two to four months at 35°F in a high-humidity location.

Potting and Repotting Turnips

Turnips are among the best vegetables to grow in pots because they’re easy to grow. Start growing turnips from seed in containers by selecting a pot at least 16 inches wide and 8 inches deep with drainage holes. Fill the container with potting soil and sow turnip seeds ½ inch deep and 1 inch apart. Keep the soil evenly moist by applying at least 1 inch of water per week.

Pests and Problems 

Rotate your turnip crops to avoid diseases like club root, anthracnose, and root rot. Don’t plant turnips in the same location more than once every three years.

Aphids and flea beetles are the two primary insect pests of turnips. You can control these pests with strong sprays of water or by applying insecticidal soap.

Harvesting Tips

To harvest turnips, pull them when they reach your preferred size. The most tender and sweet turnips are harvested when they are 2 inches or less in diameter. Turnips of all sizes should be harvested before temperatures drop below 25°F to avoid a hard freeze, which can cause turnips to split and become woody.

When turnip greens are 4–6 inches tall, you can harvest them by pulling individual leaves or by cutting handfuls of leaves 1 inch above the turnip crowns. If you leave the growth point in the center when you’re picking individual leaves, the plants will continue producing greens and roots. Harvest only a few greens from the turnips you are growing for winter storage.

Types of Turnips

Turnips come in several shapes, sizes, and colors.

‘Showgoin’

‘Showgoin’ is a white turnip with tender, mild greens and tasty roots that are 4 inches at maturity. However, the younger/smaller the root, the better the flavor. It is an excellent candidate for a fall crop because it is ready for harvest in 42 days.

‘Purple Top White Globe’

Add color to your plate with this turnip, which is white below the soil line and purple above it. Its 3-to 4-inch round root has tender, crisp, white flesh. It is ready for harvest in 50 days.

‘Scarlet Queen’

Give your salad a spark of color with ‘Scar;et Queen’ turnips. This slightly flattened, red-skinned turnip has mild and sweet white flesh and red stems. It is ready for harvest in 43 days.

‘Hakurei’

Popular in salads because of their mild, sweet taste, ‘Hakurei’ turnips don’t need to be cooked, although these round white turnips are even sweeter when cooked with their greens. These turnips are ready for harvest in 38 days.

Turnip Companion Plants

Several other cool-season vegetables make good companions for turnips.

Spinach

Spinach has similar light and water requirements as turnips and doesn’t compete with them for nutrients, so they make good companion plants. Plant spinach in between turnip rows to suppress weeds.

Peas

Peas and turnips complement one another in the garden. Peas enrich the soil with nitrogen, benefitting turnips, while turnips detract aphids, which benefits peas.

Thyme

Thyme and other fragrant herbs attract beneficial insects to the garden. Planting them near turnip plants attracts bees and other pollinators necessary for a healthy crop.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cook turnip roots?

Prep the turnips by washing, peeling, and cutting them into ½-inch cubes or strips. Cover and cook in a small amount of boiling salted water for 10 to 12 minutes or until tender, or steam them for 10 to 15 minutes.

Do you have to peel turnips before you eat them??

Both the roots and greens of the turnip plant are safe to eat. You don’t need to peel turnips before cooking them, but if the skin is thick, you might want to.

How do I cook turnip greens?

Prep turnip greens for cooking by washing them in cold water. Drain well in a colander and cut off the stems. Tear the leaves into pieces. Cook the greens by bringing a small amount of lightly salted water to boiling in a Dutch oven. Add the greens and cover the pan. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes until tender. Drain the greens well in a colander. If desired, toss with 1 tablespoon of butter or olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

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