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When to Plant Turnip in Danville City, VA

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.

Danville City, Virginia is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 13 and the first fall frost is October 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 199 days.

At an elevation of 970 feet, Danville City receives approximately 52.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Turnip during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Turnip root diseases.

Danville City, VA (Zone 7a) Moderate season
199 days
Last Spring Frost April 13
199 growing days
First Fall Frost October 29

Danville City Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (123 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: May 17 – Jun 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jun 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (115 days to spare)
Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Jul 17

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
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Turnip needs ~950 GDD — county provides 3,781 GDD Excellent fit

Turnip Planting Timeline โ€” Danville City, VA

Turnip Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 30 Mar 30 โ€“ Apr 20
Fall Sowing August 20 Aug 20 โ€“ Sep 3
Harvest May 11 May 11 โ€“ Jun 15

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 7a

Growing Season

199 days

Growing Tips for Danville City

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 Danville City, VA?

Danville City is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 13. Plan your Turnip planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Danville City, VA?

Danville City, Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 13 and first fall frost is October 29.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Danville City gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Danville City, VA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.