Turnips are small, oval-shaped root vegetables with a mild flavor. They have a whitish underside and a green or purple top, but their insides stay white.
Tennis turnips, which are regularly marketed in grocery shops in white and purple, are known to most gardeners. Beyond these two groups, nevertheless, there is a lot of variation. For small, sensitive turnips, the size of radish is among them.
The edible green tops of turnips, which belong to the Brassicaceae family, have a flavor that is comparable to mustard greens. Raw, roasted, or added to stews, these vegetables are delectable. The leaves can also be cooked in the same way as kale.
This multipurpose vegetable thrives in all four seasons. Seeds should be planted at least 70 days before the first frost in early spring or late fall. They take around 2 months to mature from the time they are planted.
Condition For Growing Turnips
There are many other things to keep in mind when growing turnips. Let’s look at how to cultivate these root veggies in the best possible conditions.
Location
In full or partial sunlight, turnips plants thrive. Turnips should be planted in well-drained, organic-rich soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.8. Add garden compost or well-aged manure to your planting beds beforehand. When preparing beds, apply sand or gypsum if your soil is thick or clay-like. Before seeding, do all of this a season in advance.
Read also: How To Grow Turnips In Containers Step By Step
Planting Time
2 to 3 weeks before the usual last frost date in spring, sow turnip seeds immediately in your garden. You’ll be able to harvest in late spring or early summer if you do it this way. Late summer is the best time to plant them, and October is the best time to harvest. Early fall is the best time to plant, and late October is when you should harvest. Plant in the late autumn for a winter harvest.
Seeds Or Transplants
Despite the availability of nursery transplants, most gardeners prefer to sow turnips straight in the garden. Plant them 70 days before the first winter date in early spring, late summer, or early fall.
Planting And Spacing
Turnips do not transplant well and thrive when planted straight in the garden. Sow your seeds about ½ inches deep and thin them out when they reach 3 to 4 inches tall, allowing at least 2 to 4 inches between them. Turnips can be planted in wide rows 4 to 6 inches apart. The trimmed plants can be used as edible greens. They’re delicious and soft.
Read also: How To Grow Turnip From Scraps Step By Step
How Long Do Turnips Take To Grow
Beets and turnips, like their relatives, are adaptable crops that can be grown for greens or roots. Turnips are a cool-season vegetable. From planting to harvesting, they take roughly 30 to 60 days.
They develop in approximately 2 months and thrive swiftly, so you can receive more than one crop in a season. They thrive in temperatures ranging from 40 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They should be harvested before the temperature rises beyond 75°F (24°C). You can develop succession plants every 10 to 14 days for a longer yield.
Read also: How To Grow Turnip From Seeds
Harvesting Turnips
Greens: Turnip greens can be harvested when they reach a height of at least 4 inches. The greens will sprout if the top of the root structure is not damaged.
Roots: When the roots are small and sensitive, roughly 2 to 3 inches in diameter, they are picked and consumed. Allowing them to get old will cause them to become rough, pithy, or sour.
