How To Grow Turnips
The key to growing big turnips is loose soil.
How to grow turnips. Turnips need to grow quickly and regular water along with a rich soil will help them do that. Turnips are quick and easy to grow from seed ready to harvest in as little as six to ten weeks. Growing turnips is a great way to diversify your garden.
Harvest when theyre young and small. Turnips thrive in cooler weather as too much heat can cause roots to become woody and encourages early bolting so the key is to get your seeds in the ground before temperatures get too hot. I also make my own mix which is 5050 compost and topsoil.
Mix in a 2-4 inch layer of compost and stir well. Water well during dry weather and thin plants depending on the size of turnip youre looking for up to 23cm apart if you want large turnips. At least 1 inch of water per week is vital for good root development.
Turnips generally require a full sun location but will tolerate partial shade especially if you plan on harvesting the plant for its greens. Growing turnips to maturity takes five weeks to two months. As soon as the ground is workable you can start sowing the seeds.
If you plan to harvest fully mature bulbs wait about 60 days to pull them from the ground. This timeframe also changes based on the varieties you plant. They like cool moisture-retentive soil in an open sunny location.
Turnips grow best in full sun when temperatures range from 40 to 75F. Add sand or gypsum to heavy clay soil or prepare beds by planting green manure and working it into the beds the season before seeding. Turnip seeds should be sown directly into your outdoor garden bed as soon as the soil can be worked.