How to Grow Turnips in Raised Beds

How to Grow Turnips

Turnips are a 6-week cool-season crop. Grow them for roots, greens, or both. They are more forgiving than carrots and faster than beets, and they belong in spring and fall, not July.

Key growing facts for Turnips
Spacing	3–4 in for roots; closer if you only want greens
Soil	Loose, average fertility
Sunlight	6+ hours
Planting depth	½ inch
Water	Even; drought makes pithy roots
Days to harvest	Greens ~30 days; roots 40–60

Soil requirements

Loose mix. They do not need a deep box like parsnips.

Watering

Keep moisture even. Heat plus drought is why people say they hate turnips.

Sunlight

Full sun in cool weather.

Planting

Sow early spring and late summer.
Thin to 3–4 inches if you want bulbs. Eat thinnings.

Spacing

3–4 inches. Square-foot: 9–16.

Common problems

Flea beetles on greens
Row cover. Roots may still form.
Woody roots
Left too long or grown in heat. Harvest small.

Helpful tools

Row cover

Product links will be added when independently researched. See the garden tools hub for buying criteria.

Frequently asked questions

Are turnip greens worth growing if I do not like the roots?

Yes. Sow denser, harvest young, and pull before they get tough. Same family as mustard and collards.