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When to Plant Turnip in Pottawatomie County, OK

Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma Zone 7b May

May in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma — your action list

Welcome to May in Zone 7b. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost April 2
Avg. first frost November 5
Soil temp (4") 70°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Basket week: turnip

    Don't tug. Use scissors or pruners for clean cuts — torn stems invite disease.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • 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.

Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost is November 5, giving you a growing season of approximately 217 days.

At an elevation of 550 feet, Pottawatomie County receives approximately 26.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Turnip during the growing season.

Pottawatomie County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
217 days
Last Spring Frost April 2
217 growing days
First Fall Frost November 5

Pottawatomie County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (145 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: May 2 – Jun 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (140 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 2 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jun 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (143 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Jul 1

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 Pottawatomie County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.4) is more alkaline than Turnip prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.0%) — 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 217-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 06 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 27.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,115 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 0.8" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Nov in Pottawatomie 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 ~912 GDD — county provides 3,960 GDD Excellent fit

Turnip Planting Timeline — Pottawatomie County, OK

Turnip Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 19 Mar 19 – Apr 9
Harvest April 30 Apr 30 – Jun 4
Fall Sowing August 27 Aug 27 – Sep 10

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Direct Sow
April Direct Sow Harvest
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 · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

217 days in Pottawatomie County

Growing Tips for Turnip in Pottawatomie County

Direct sow Turnip outdoors after April 02 in Pottawatomie County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 217.0-day season in Pottawatomie 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 Pottawatomie County, OK?

Pottawatomie County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 2. Plan your Turnip planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pottawatomie County, OK?

Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 2 and first fall frost is November 5.

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Your Pottawatomie County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Pottawatomie 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 Pottawatomie 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.