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When to Plant Turnip in Pittsburg County, OK

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.

Pittsburg County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost is November 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 211 days.

At an elevation of 620 feet, Pittsburg County receives approximately 32.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Turnip during the growing season.

Pittsburg County, OK (Zone 7a) Long season
211 days
Last Spring Frost April 4
211 growing days
First Fall Frost November 1

Pittsburg County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (138 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 26 🍅 Harvest: May 7 – Jun 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (134 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jun 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (142 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: May 29 – Jul 3

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 Pittsburg County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6โ€“7.2) overlaps with Turnip's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Pittsburg County is excellent for Turnip โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.7%). Annual compost additions will help Turnip.

How to Plant Turnip

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

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Turnip

6
successive plantings in your 211-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 02 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 23.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 659 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 โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 5.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2" 2.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 1" 3.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Nov in Pittsburg County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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 ~875 GDD — county provides 3,692 GDD Excellent fit

Turnip Planting Timeline โ€” Pittsburg County, OK

Turnip Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 21 Mar 21 โ€“ Apr 11
Harvest May 2 May 2 โ€“ Jun 6
Fall Sowing August 23 Aug 23 โ€“ Sep 6

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

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

40โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

211 days in Pittsburg County

Growing Tips for Turnip in Pittsburg County

Direct sow Turnip outdoors after April 04 in Pittsburg County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 211.0-day season in Pittsburg 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 Pittsburg County, OK?

Pittsburg County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 4. Plan your Turnip planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pittsburg County, OK?

Pittsburg County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 4 and first fall frost is November 1.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Pittsburg County gardeners in Zone 7a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Pittsburg County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.