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When to Plant Turnip in Adair County, OK

Adair County, Oklahoma Zone 7b May

This month in Adair County, Oklahoma

A quick May briefing for Adair County, Oklahoma gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost April 7
Avg. first frost October 27
Soil temp (4") 66°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Start harvesting turnip

    Morning harvests are best — cooler temperatures mean crisper produce and longer fridge life.

Looking ahead to June
  • First harvests: turnip

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Turnips are a fast-growing cool-season root vegetable with edible roots and greens. Baby turnips are sweet and tender while mature ones are more pungent.

Adair County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 203 days.

At an elevation of 486 feet, Adair County receives approximately 33.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93°F, providing good warmth for Turnip during the growing season.

Adair County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
203 days
Last Spring Frost April 7
203 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Adair County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (132 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: May 9 – Jun 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (126 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jun 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (132 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Jul 11

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Adair County

How your county's soil matches Turnip's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.1) overlaps with Turnip's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Adair County is excellent for Turnip — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) — Turnip will thrive.

How to Plant Turnip

0.5"
Planting Depth
4"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Turnip

6
successive plantings in your 203-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 28 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 18.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 540 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Turnip

Turnip needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Turnip Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Adair County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Turnip Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Turnip needs ~988 GDD — county provides 4,009 GDD Excellent fit

Turnip Planting Timeline — Adair County, OK

Turnip Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 24 Mar 24 – Apr 14
Harvest May 5 May 5 – Jun 9
Fall Sowing August 18 Aug 18 – Sep 1

Plant 0.5" deep · 4" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Direct Sow
April Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

203 days in Adair County

Growing Tips for Turnip in Adair County

Direct sow Turnip outdoors after April 07 in Adair County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 203.0-day season in Adair County allows multiple plantings of Turnip. Sow every 20.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Turnip in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow in early spring or late summer. Harvest when roots are 2-3 inches in diameter for best flavor. Both the roots and the greens are nutritious and edible.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Turnip in Adair County, OK?

Adair County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 7. Plan your Turnip planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Adair County, OK?

Adair County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 7 and first fall frost is October 27.

🌱

Your Adair County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Adair County (Zone 7b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Adair County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.