Turnip Planting Guide

May

turnip this May — what to know

Some notes on turnip care that hold up no matter where you garden — then check your zone for specifics.

Sun full sun

Water moderate

Days to harvest 40–60

Plant depth 0.5″

Spacing 4″

How to water turnip
About an inch of water a week keeps turnip happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
Where to put turnip
South-facing beds are ideal for turnip. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant turnip. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Your turnip planting calendar by county →

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?

Zone Compatibility for Turnip Zones 2a – 10b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

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

0.5"

Planting Depth

Between Plants

12"

Between Rows

🍂 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

Peas Lettuce Onion

❌ Keep Away From

Potatoes

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

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Turnip by State

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.