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When to Plant Turnip in Rolette County, ND

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.

Rolette County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost is September 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 128 days.

At an elevation of 998 feet, Rolette County receives approximately 31.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 78ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Turnip to ensure they mature before fall.

Rolette County, ND (Zone 3b) Short season
128 days
Last Spring Frost May 17
128 growing days
First Fall Frost September 22

Rolette County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Jul 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (51 days to spare)
Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Aug 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Transplant: May 28 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Aug 13

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
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Turnip needs ~425 GDD — county provides 1,088 GDD Excellent fit

Turnip Planting Timeline โ€” Rolette County, ND

Turnip Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow May 10 May 10 โ€“ May 31
Fall Sowing June 30 Jun 30 โ€“ Jul 14
Harvest June 21 Jun 21 โ€“ Jul 26

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May Direct Sow
June Fall Sowing Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August โ€”
September โ€”
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 3b

Growing Season

128 days

Growing Tips for Rolette 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 Rolette County, ND?

Rolette County is in Zone 3b with an average last frost of May 17. Plan your Turnip planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Rolette County, ND?

Rolette County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 17 and first fall frost is September 22.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Rolette County gardeners in Zone 3b 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 Rolette County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.