Turnip Planting Guide
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.
Brassica rapa subsp. rapa · Vegetable · Brassicaceae family · 40–60 days to maturity
Get Your Personalized Turnip Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Turnip?
Turnip Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Turnip planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2a | — | May 23 | — | Jul 4 – Aug 8 |
| Zone 2b | — | May 15 | — | Jun 26 – Jul 31 |
| Zone 3a | — | May 8 | — | Jun 19 – Jul 24 |
| Zone 3b | — | May 3 | — | Jun 14 – Jul 19 |
| Zone 4a | — | Apr 29 | — | Jun 10 – Jul 15 |
| Zone 4b | — | Apr 24 | — | Jun 5 – Jul 10 |
| Zone 5a | — | Apr 11 | — | May 23 – Jun 27 |
| Zone 5b | — | Apr 4 | — | May 16 – Jun 20 |
| Zone 6a | — | Mar 27 | — | May 8 – Jun 12 |
| Zone 6b | — | Mar 20 | — | May 1 – Jun 5 |
| Zone 7a | — | Mar 11 | — | Apr 22 – May 27 |
| Zone 7b | — | Mar 4 | — | Apr 15 – May 20 |
| Zone 8a | — | Feb 22 | — | Apr 5 – May 10 |
| Zone 8b | — | Feb 11 | — | Mar 25 – Apr 29 |
| Zone 9a | — | Jan 20 | — | Mar 3 – Apr 7 |
| Zone 9b | — | Jan 4 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 22 |
| Zone 10a | — | Dec 11 | — | Jan 22 – Feb 26 |
| Zone 10b | — | Dec 11 | — | Jan 22 – Feb 26 |
Why are some columns showing "—"?
Start Indoors shows "—" because Turnip is typically direct sown outdoors rather than started indoors. It germinates quickly and doesn't transplant well.
Transplant shows "—" because Turnip is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.
How to Plant Turnip
🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
Moderate — regular watering
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.
🧪 Soil pH
6 – 7
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 2a – 10b
📅 Days to Maturity
40–60 days
Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.
👪 Plant Family
Brassicaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Brassicaceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting Turnip
Turnip matures in just 40–60 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 5 successive plantings by sowing every 4.6 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for Turnip
✅ Good Companions
❌ Keep Away From
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Turnip
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.
Saving Turnip Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Level Up Your Garden
Turnip by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Turnip?
Turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa) takes 40 to 60 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Turnip grow in?
Turnip can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 10b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Turnip need?
Growing Turnip requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.