Turnips - Key Growing Information

Freshly harvested and washed, red and white summer turnip varieties, lying side by side.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Brassica rapa
CULTURE: Turnips are tolerant of moderate frost and prefer a fertile, well-drained soil, with a pH of 6.0–7.5. Sow early spring through late summer in a 2–4" wide band, seeds 1" apart (35 seeds/ft.) for small turnips or 2" apart (and half this rate) for larger turnips. Sow 1/4– 1/2" deep in rows 12–18" apart.
INSECT PESTS: Floating row covers installed at the time of sowing will keep the turnips free of insect pests, including flea beetles and root maggots.
HARVEST: Young, radish-size turnips are ready in about 30 days; full-size turnips are ready in about 40–50 days. Roots are smoothest when small.
STORAGE: Turnips with greens store at 32°F (0°C) and 95% relative humidity (RH) for 10–14 days. Fall-harvested Purple Top White Globe turnips can be topped at harvest and stored at 32–40°F (0–4°C) with 90–95% RH for 4–6 months.
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE: 1 oz./320', 3.1 oz./1,000', 5 2/3 lb./acre at 35 seeds/ft. in rows 18" apart.
SEED SPECS: See individual varieties.
PACKET: 400 seeds, sows 11'.