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GROWING GUIDES

Turnips

Turnips

Vegetables

Easy

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Planting Schedule

Month by month

Sow Indoors
Sow Outdoors
Plant Out
Harvest

Sow Seeds Indoors

Not usually started indoors. Direct sow outdoors for best results.

Outdoors

Sow direct outdoors from March to August. Early sowings for summer crops, late sowings for autumn and winter.

Harvest

Pull when roots are golf-ball to tennis-ball sized, usually 6-10 weeks after sowing. Young turnips are sweetest.

Month by month

Sow Indoors
Sow Outdoors
Plant Out
Harvest

How to Sow

  • Sow seeds thinly, 1-2cm deep in rows 23cm apart
  • Thin seedlings to 10-15cm apart
  • Choose an open, sunny spot with well-drained soil
  • Sow successionally every 3 weeks for a continuous harvest
  • Water the drill before sowing

Plant Care

  • Keep soil consistently moist — dry conditions cause woody, bitter roots
  • Weed regularly while plants are small
  • Cover with fine mesh to protect from flea beetle which makes tiny holes in the leaves
  • Earth up slightly as roots develop
  • Harvest promptly — large turnips become woody

AllotMe’s Tips

  • Baby turnips are delicious raw in salads — sweet and crunchy
  • 'Purple Top Milan' is a reliable early variety; 'Golden Ball' stores well for winter
  • Turnip tops (leaves) are edible and nutritious — cook them like spring greens

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