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Turnip Growing Guide🥕: Planting and Care Tips for Balcony and Raised Gardens

Turnip Growing Guide🥕: Planting and Care Tips for Balcony and Raised Gardens

Introduction

Turnips are an underrated cool-season root crop that deliver crisp, sweet bulbs and tender greens. They thrive in spring and fall, making them a versatile addition to any garden. Whether you’re planting in a LifeSpace Garden or setting up your own beds with GardenWells sub-irrigation kits, steady bottom-up watering keeps turnips mild, juicy, and thriving.

When to Plant Turnips

  • Spring: Direct seed as soon as the soil is workable, typically March through May. For early-planting strategies, see the March Gardening Guide.

  • Fall: Sow again in late August to September for a sweet autumn harvest. For tips on cooler-season care, see the September Gardening Guide.

  • Succession Planting: Sow every 2–3 weeks for a steady harvest window.

Square Foot Gardening Spacing

  • Spacing: 9 plants per square foot (~4” apart)

  • Depth: Sow seeds ½” deep

  • Thinning: Thin to the strongest seedlings after germination

  • Companions: Pair turnips with carrots, lettuce, and radishes for efficient use of space.

How to Plant Turnips

Direct Seeding

  • Sow 2–3 seeds per hole and thin to one strong plant once established.

  • Keep the soil surface evenly moist until germination (~5–7 days).

  • Best planted in SIP systems to maintain steady moisture and avoid bitterness.

Transplanting (Optional)

  • Turnips generally prefer direct seeding but small plugs can be transplanted successfully.

  • If transplanting, water gently for the first 7–10 days to help roots establish in the wicking zone.

Watering Your Turnips

Turnips need consistent hydration to stay sweet and tender:

  • Use your WaterStem to monitor levels: when the Hummingbird rises, your reservoir’s full; when it drops, refill.

  • Before establishment: Lightly top-water daily until seedlings root into the moisture zone.

  • After establishment: Refill reservoirs about every 1–2 weeks depending on weather.

  • Mulch lightly around seedlings to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

  • For March-specific watering strategies, see the March Gardening Guide.

Harvesting Turnips

  • Baby Turnips: Ready in 30–40 days — harvest when bulbs are 2” wide for a tender, sweet flavor.

  • Full-Sized Roots: For larger turnips, wait 50–60 days until bulbs reach 3–4”.

  • Greens Too: Turnip greens are delicious — harvest the outer leaves while leaving the center intact for regrowth.

  • For fall-harvest storage tips, visit our October Gardening Guide.

Common Issues & Fixes

Issue Likely Cause Solution
Woody or Bitter Roots Irregular watering, heat stress Keep steady SIP hydration, mulch to cool soil
Flea Beetles Spring pest pressure Use row covers early, plant trap crops, encourage predators
Poor Bulb Formation Overcrowding Thin seedlings to proper spacing (4” apart)

Product Tips

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