BrassicasBrassicaceae

Turnips.

Cool season
At a glance

The spec sheet.

Direct sow / out
Apr 1 (spring) / Jul 15 – Aug 15 (fall)
Germ
3–7 days
Days to harvest
55–70
Spacing
3" apart
Depth
½"
Square-foot
9 per square
Qty target
6–12 for fresh eating + fermenting.

Plant

Direct sow. Fall crop is far better than spring — cool nights sweeten the roots.

Care

Thin to 3" spacing. Steady water. Row cover deters root maggot in spring.

Harvest

Pull at 2–3" — smaller are sweeter. Salad-turnip varieties (Hakurei) can be eaten raw.

Preserve

Root cellar 4–6 weeks; ferment (pickled turnip); also freeze mashed.

Companion planting

What turnips likes, and doesn’t.

Avoid nearby