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When to Plant Turnip in Webb County, TX

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.

Webb County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 9 and the first fall frost is December 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 303 days.

At an elevation of 3,543 feet, Webb County receives approximately 50.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 95ยฐF, so Turnip may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Turnip root diseases.

Webb County, TX (Zone 9a) Year-round
303 days
Last Spring Frost February 9
303 growing days
First Fall Frost December 9

Webb County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (240 days to spare)
Transplant: Jan 19 🍅 Harvest: Mar 2 – Apr 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (226 days to spare)
Transplant: Feb 9 🍅 Harvest: Mar 23 – Apr 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (214 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 5 🍅 Harvest: Apr 16 – May 21

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 Webb County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6โ€“7.7) is more alkaline than Turnip prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Turnip.

How to Plant Turnip

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

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Turnip

9
successive plantings in your 303-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Oct 10 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Oct 14.

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 964 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

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€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb 4.3" 1.9" 2.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Mar 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 4.3" 5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 8.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 7.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 6.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 5.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering

Water needs are for active growing months only (Febโ€“Dec in Webb 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 ~1,062 GDD — county provides 6,460 GDD Excellent fit

Turnip Planting Timeline โ€” Webb County, TX

Turnip Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow January 19 Jan 19 โ€“ Feb 9
Harvest March 2 Mar 2 โ€“ Apr 6
Fall Sowing October 14 Oct 14 โ€“ Oct 28

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

303 days in Webb County

Growing Tips for Turnip in Webb County

Direct sow Turnip outdoors after February 09 in Webb County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 304.0-day season in Webb 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 Webb County, TX?

Webb County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 9. Plan your Turnip planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Webb County, TX?

Webb County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 9 and first fall frost is December 9.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Webb County gardeners in Zone 9a 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 Webb County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.