As part of the cabbage family along with radishes and broccoli, turnip care is similar. They are a cool-season vegetable that likes lots of sunlight and loamy, slightly acidic soil. A total of one inch of water per week is usually sufficient. Keep the soil consistently moist and avoid waterlogged roots as this increases the risk of disease. Both overwatering and underwatering can lead to tough and bitter turnips.

The biggest pest concerns are cabbage maggots, aphids, flea beetles and wireworms. Take immediate action with pesticides or other control methods. Black rot, clubroot and downy mildew are potential fungal diseases. Keep the growing area clean and weed-free to reduce pest and disease occurrence.

Because of their fast growing cycle and cool weather preferences, starting turnips indoors is rare unless you want multiple growing seasons in a lower grow zone. If you do choose to seed turnips, sow them a half-inch deep in a tray with seed-starting mix. Space the seeds one inch apart. Keep the soil moist and grow them in a sunny area at room temperature. When the seedlings reach four inches in height or develop true leaves, thin to 4-6 inches apart. Before transplanting, harden them off with gradual exposure to outdoor conditions.

In warmer regions, you can plant turnips in late winter and late summer; cooler areas only allow a single late spring/early summer planting if doing so in-ground. You should plant in a spot where you have not grown turnips or other Brassica plants in the past 3-4 years. This will ensure the best nutrients and the lowest disease/pest risk. Use the same spacing and thinning schedule as indoor planting while separating the rows by 18-30 inches. For container growing, use pots that are a minimum of 16 inches wide by 8 inches deep with good drainage.

Unless you have poor soil quality, adding slow-release fertilizer before planting should be enough for the season. This can be organic matter like compost and manure or a balanced granular blend. Turnips grow well in a soil pH ranging from 6 to 7.5. Test your soil before planting to determine exact fertilization and amendment needs.

In milder climates, you can leave turnips in the ground after they mature and harvest them when needed. Use mulch, cold frames or other coverings for insulation and protection. Turnips can tolerate light frost but will be damaged by extended below-freezing temperatures. For these environments, plant them in times so all turnip roots can be harvested before the ground freezes.

Although turnips do need pruning beyond thinning the seedlings, you can harvest the greens for cooking and salads. Do so early in the growing season so the turnip can recover, and don’t remove more than a third of the greens at a time.

Turnips tend to taste best when the roots are 2-3 inches in diameter, which typically takes 40-60 days from sowing. Measure the root shoulders that pop above the soil line to determine if it’s ready. Loosen the soil gently with a spade or your fingers, then gently pull up the root and cut off the greens.