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When to Plant Turnip in Lincoln County, OR

Lincoln County, Oregon Zone 9a May

Your May game plan for Lincoln County, Oregon

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Lincoln County, Oregon this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost April 19
Avg. first frost October 31
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering High
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Pick turnip

    Taste as you pick. The first ripe produce is the best feedback loop you'll get all season.

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.

Lincoln County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 195 days.

At an elevation of 267 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 41.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Turnip to ensure they mature before fall.

Lincoln County, OR (Zone 9a) Moderate season
195 days
Last Spring Frost April 19
195 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31
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Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (128 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jun 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (118 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: May 31 – Jul 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (128 days to spare)
Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Jul 27

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 Lincoln County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.4) is more acidic than Turnip prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.9%) — Turnip will thrive.

How to Plant Turnip

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

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Turnip

5
successive plantings in your 195-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 01 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 05.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 192 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 6.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.6" 3.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.7" 3.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 6.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 5.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Lincoln 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 ~612 GDD — county provides 2,388 GDD Excellent fit

Turnip Planting Timeline — Lincoln County, OR

Turnip Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 19
Harvest May 10 May 10 – Jun 14
Fall Sowing September 5 Sep 5 – Sep 19

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
September Fall Sowing
October
November
December
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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: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

195 days in Lincoln County

Growing Tips for Turnip in Lincoln County

Direct sow Turnip outdoors after April 19 in Lincoln County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 195.0-day season in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, OR?

Lincoln County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of April 19. Plan your Turnip planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln County, OR?

Lincoln County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is April 19 and first fall frost is October 31.

🌱

Your Lincoln County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Lincoln County (Zone 9a). 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 Lincoln County, OR. 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.