The turnip is a root vegetable mostly known for its bulbous, white taproot. This vegetable is a staple in many cuisines, particularly British and American. Although the root is the most commonly consumed aspect of the turnip, the greens that grow above the surface are often used in sautés and salads. The root is a great source of vitamin C, and the greens are great sources of vitamins A, C, K, foliate and calcium.

Are you going to plant turnips in your garden? According to our research, you can plant turnips alongside anything!

Turnips are a fairly simple vegetable to grow. They thrive in cool soil, so plant them in the spring or the fall. Scatter your seeds evenly across loose, neutral soil that has good drainage. Make sure your turnips are exposed to plenty of sunlight. These plants will require about 1” of water per week. Too much water will cause them to rot, and too little will cause the roots to become tough, and the turnips will end up bitter. An average rainfall season should account for most of your watering.

If you choose to harvest your greens, do so as soon as they are large enough to pick (4-6”) high. When harvested carefully, these will regenerate for future harvests. Feel free to harvest the roots between 5 and 10 weeks depending on the level of maturity you seek. Earlier turnips should easily pull out by hand, but a spading fork will be needed to carefully remove later harvest varieties. All turnips should be harvested by the first frost, and should not be allowed to grow too large, as this will have an ill effect on flavor.