How to Grow Turnip

Beginner-Friendly

Brassica rapa subsp. rapa

A fast-growing cool-season root crop. Both roots and greens are edible. One of the quickest brassicas from seed to harvest. Direct sow for best results; turnips do not transplant well.

Last updated: June 2026

Days to Maturity
30–60 days
typical
Per Square Foot
9
Plant Spacing
8 cm / 3"
Sun
6+ hours
Water
1.0" / 25 mm
Fertilization
light feeder

Growing Notes

Direct sow 2–4 weeks before last frost in spring, or 6–8 weeks before first frost in fall. Harvest roots at 5–8 cm diameter for best texture. Greens can be cut earlier.

Varieties & Cultivars

6 cultivars in our database. Click any card to see growing details.

1850s heirloom

(1)
Golden Ball
45–65 days Open-Pollinated

sweet mild nutty flavour; fine-grained flesh; good keeper; also called Orange Jelly; dual-purpose roots and greens

Height
6–12" (15–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
3.9 oz (110 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
2–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
4 years

1969 AAS winner

(1)
Tokyo Cross
30–45 days Hybrid

very fast maturing; mild and sweet; harvest at 5 cm for baby turnips

Height
6–12" (15–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
3.0 oz (85 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
2–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
4 years

Classic heirloom since 1880s

(1)
Purple Top White Globe
45–60 days Open-Pollinated

mild sweet flesh; good for roots and greens

Height
8–16" (20–40 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
4.6 oz (130 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
2–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
4 years

Japanese heirloom

(1)
Kanamachi
40–50 days Open-Pollinated

very mild sweet flavour; excellent for pickling; good greens

Height
6–12" (15–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
3.2 oz (90 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
2–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
4 years

Japanese salad turnip

(1)
Hakurei
30–40 days Hybrid

sweet and crisp raw; excellent greens; best harvested small at 5 cm

Height
6–12" (15–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
2.5 oz (70 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
2–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
4 years

Southern heirloom

(1)
Seven Top
45–55 days Open-Pollinated

small round roots; greens harvested repeatedly; staple in Southern cooking

Height
6–12" (15–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
3.0 oz (85 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
4 years

Companion Planting

What to grow alongside turnip, and what to keep apart.

Plant With

Onion : Onion scent deters flea beetles from turnip greens
Garlic : Garlic deters flea beetles and aphids from turnips
Radish : Both fast-growing root crops that loosen soil; stagger harvest
Peas : Peas fix nitrogen that turnips use; complementary root zones

Keep Apart

Potato : Both root crops competing for similar soil zone; shared pest pressure
Rhubarb : Root crops compete with rhubarb's deep crown system

Square Foot Spacing

9 per sq ft

4" apart (3×3 grid)

View full spacing chart →

Ready to grow turnip?

Plan your garden with exact spacing and zone-specific planting dates. An AI companion helps with the rest.

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