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When to Plant Turnip in Dent County, MO

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.

Dent County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 200 days.

At an elevation of 774 feet, Dent County receives approximately 31.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Turnip during the growing season.

Dent County, MO (Zone 6a) Long season
200 days
Last Spring Frost April 10
200 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Dent County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (119 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jun 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (123 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Jun 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (125 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 4 – Jul 9

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 595 gal / 100 sq ft
Turnip needs ~912 GDD — county provides 3,650 GDD Excellent fit

Turnip Planting Timeline โ€” Dent County, MO

Turnip Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 27 Mar 27 โ€“ Apr 17
Fall Sowing August 18 Aug 18 โ€“ Sep 1
Harvest May 8 May 8 โ€“ Jun 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

40โ€“60 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6a

Growing Season

200 days

Growing Tips for Dent County

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

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Turnip in Dent County, MO?

Dent County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 10. Plan your Turnip planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dent County, MO?

Dent County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 10 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Dent County gardeners in Zone 6a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Dent County, MO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.