How to Plant Turnip Seeds

Turnips, a root vegetable, take about two to three months to grow, with lots of sun and moderate amounts of water. Both the tops and the root of the turnip can be eaten, usually boiled or roasted. Don't microwave turnips; it causes them to lose some of their nutrients. Use garlic, lemon, thyme or parsley to flavor and season turnips.

Things You'll Need

• Rake
• Compost or fertilizer
• Shovel
• Trowel
• Turnip seeds

Instructions

1. Rake compost or fertilizer into the soil; the soil should have a pH of 6.5 for turnips to thrive. Use a shovel to make planting rows a foot apart.

2. Use a trowel or your fingers to bury turnip seeds a half-inch deep and an inch apart. Plant the seeds in late June or July, to decrease the chance of root maggots. (Root maggots can destroy turnip crops.) Water thoroughly.

3. After the turnips begin to sprout, thin out the crop. Remove weaker plants, leaving a gap of one to six inches between each seedling.

4. Water and weed the garden weekly. Add fertilizer once every couple of weeks.

5. Harvest the turnips when they measure three inches across.

References

• How to plant and grow garden turnips
• Tips for growing turnips
• Growing turnips

Resources

• Turnip