Turnip Seeds: How to Sow and Harvest This Fast-Growing Root!

Written by August Croft
Published: October 1, 2022
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If you are planning a garden with a fast turn-around time, you may want to consider planting turnip seeds. Thriving in cool weather, turnips are ready for harvesting within 2-3 months on average, and you can even eat the greens on this fantastic root vegetable! But what is the best method when it comes to growing turnips, and what should you consider before planting?

Sowing turnip seeds directly into your garden is the best way of growing turnips. They don’t transplant well, so starting these roots indoors is not recommended. However, you can plant turnips in spring or fall, depending on your region, and giving them an initial boost with compost or fertilizer is ideal. Otherwise, make sure you thin your seedlings no less than 5 inches apart, and enjoy the harvest in as little as 2 months!

Growing turnips is easier than you think. Here’s how to do it, step by step.

turnip seeds

Sowing turnip seeds directly into your garden is the best way of growing turnips.

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Turnip SeedsHow to Grow
Hardiness Zones2 through 9
Popular Turnip Varieties“Just Right”, “Golden Globe”, “Royal Crown”, “Tokyo Cross”, “Market Express”; white, purple, and golden colored varieties, and some grown only for their greens
Germination/Growing TimeMere days for seeds to germinate; two months until roots are harvestable
Time of Year to Plant SeedsEarly spring or early fall; anytime the soil is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit
Things to NoteTurnips don’t like transplanting; sow directly into your garden for best results!

What Do Turnip Seeds Look Like?

closeup turnip seeds in hand

Depending on the type of turnip seed you purchase, they may vary in terms of size and shape, as well as their color.

©Saad315/Shutterstock.com

When it comes to identifying turnip seeds, these plants produce fairly uniform ones. Found in various shades of black or brown, turnip seeds are minuscule and rounded. Depending on the type of turnip seed you purchase, they may vary in terms of size and shape, as well as their color. Given their small size, there are a few different methods of sowing turnip seeds.

For example, you can directly sow your seeds and evenly space them from the beginning. If you find this method too tedious, you can easily scatter your seeds in your designated turnip planting zone (full sun is preferred!) and thin the plants later. In fact, thinning your turnips is always necessary, regardless of your seed planting method. Crowded turnips mean there won’t be enough room to develop their delicious roots!

turnip seeds

Turnips grow primarily underground, after all, and they prefer a gentle fertilizer or compost mix when starting from seed.

©platon4eg/Shutterstock.com

Before you dive into planting, you should take some time to pick out the type of turnips you want to grow. There are a few different turnip varieties, classified in different ways. Some turnips grow faster than others, and some are purple as opposed to white. Plus, there are even some turnip varieties that are grown for their greens only, with the roots largely ignored!

Here are some of the best turnip varieties for you to consider:

  • Just Right“. An extremely popular variety for its cold tolerance and delicious greens. Roots are ready after two months, while the greens can be harvested as early as one!
  • Golden Globe“. Yellow or golden roots, similar to golden beets. Wonderful turnip greens and crisp bulbs leave you wanting more.
  • Royal Crown“. Purple heads and plenty of greens to eat. Develops early and the roots are delicious when roasted.
  • Tokyo Cross“. Ready in just over one month’s time, with a unique spicy flavor. Pure white and creamy in texture.
  • Market Express“. Another fast-growing variety, ready in 40 days. Turnips are small and petite, with a sweet flavor.

Germinating and Growing Turnips from Seed

turnip seeds

You can choose to space your turnip seeds two inches apart in rows one foot apart, or you can simply scatter your seeds in their designated rows and thin them later.

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Growing turnips from seed is an incredibly easy process- so easy that you may want to grow this crop in both spring and fall! Here’s how to germinate, grow, and care for turnips:

  • In early spring or fall, ensure that your soil is ready. Turnips grow primarily underground, after all, and they prefer a gentle fertilizer or compost mix when starting from seed. Till your earth and mix in something special for your seeds, and perhaps take the temperature of your soil too. Anything colder than 40 degrees Fahrenheit is a no-go for turnips, and make sure you’re planting in full sunshine! Start your seeds outside after the danger of frost has passed in spring, or a few months before your first frost date in the fall.
  • Sow your turnip seeds evenly- or don’t! You can choose to space your turnip seeds two inches apart in rows one foot apart, or you can simply scatter your seeds in their designated rows and thin them later. Either way, you’ll likely need to thin your plants as they age, so the latter method may work best for most of you!
  • Don’t bury too deep, but water deeply. Turnips need to be near the surface initially, so make sure not to bury your seeds deeper than a half-inch. Once your seeds have been sown, water them well. Turnips love consistently moist soil, so keep this in mind as your plants grow.
  • Thin your seedlings after a few weeks. One of the best reasons to grow turnips is the fact that thinning your crops is part of the process. In fact, you can eat all of the microgreens that you harvest! Once you have some established seedlings, only keep strong plants spaced at least 5 inches apart from each other. This leads to the biggest and happiest roots!
  • Feel free to harvest your greens as you go. Your turnip roots need more time than the greens, and the greens are just as edible as the roots! Trim your turnip greens after their first month of growing and enjoy them raw in salads or roasted. The greens will come back, and you can harvest them again before your roots are ready, depending on the variety you choose to grow!

Harvesting Turnip Seeds

turnip seeds

You’ll know your turnip flowers are ready to be cut and harvested when they have turned brown.

©cattosus/Shutterstock.com

It’s easy to grow turnips, again and again, season after season. You can either let this perennial plant bolt and come back next year if you’re in a more temperate region, or you can collect seeds after your turnips flower. Here’s how to harvest your very own seeds:

  • Let your turnips flower, and let those flowers die. You’ll know your turnip flowers are ready to be cut and harvested when they have turned brown. Turnips spread their seeds quickly after this point in time, so be ready.
  • Cut your dried stalks. The lower the seed pods are on your flower stalks, the more ready they are. Keep this in mind as you carefully cut the turnip flowers from the base, and store them in a bag to bring inside.
  • Remove the seed pods from the stalk and let them dry. Even if your turnip pods are brown and dried, another bit of drying time won’t hurt. Leave your turnip seed pods in a cool, dry location for up to a week.
  • Separate your turnip seeds from the rest of the pod. Gently crack your turnip pods open and you’ll see the tiny black seeds inside. Save these for your next turnip planting date, and enjoy this self-sustaining vegetable for years to come!

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © platon4eg/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

August Croft is a writer at A-Z Animals where their primary focus is on astrology, symbolism, and gardening. August has been writing a variety of content for over 4 years and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theater from Southern Oregon University, which they earned in 2014. They are currently working toward a professional certification in astrology and chart reading. A resident of Oregon, August enjoys playwriting, craft beer, and cooking seasonal recipes for their friends and high school sweetheart.

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Sources
  1. The Influence of Row Spacing and Seeding Rate on Seed Yield and Yield Components of Forage Turnip (Brassica rapa L.), Available here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1439-037X.2003.00037.x
  2. A sensory profile of turnip greens as affected by variety and maturity, Available here: https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2621.2002.tb08869.x