Turnips are a hardy but temperamental root vegetable that can produce delicious and nutritious results when grown correctly and with the right care. Growing turnips for your table or market production is a popular hobby for many gardeners. But how long do turnips take to grow from the time you sow them?
Knowing how long it takes to get a crop of turnips ready to harvest will help you plan accordingly.
Despite their hardiness, turnips need plenty of specific care during the early growing period. This is especially true if you grow them in colder climates where frost can penetrate the soil and affect seedlings.
That is why, on average, it usually takes 75 to 85 days from planting to harvest your turnip crop. Even with nursery-grown plants, maturity times still fall between 55-70 days after sowing, depending on variety, climate conditions, and other factors such as the number of hours per day of sunlight. Read on and learn more about it.
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How Long Does It Take for Turnips to Grow?
Turnips are a cool-season vegetable that can be grown for its greens or roots, making it an incredibly adaptable crop. Growing turnips from planting to harvesting only takes 30 to 60 days so you can receive more than one crop in a single season.
Turnip plants thrive best when exposed to temperatures between 40 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. To maximize its harvest potential and prevent deterioration of the root crop, the turnips should be harvested before the heat reaches beyond 75°F (24°C).
Turnips are easy to grow and require minimal maintenance, making them a great addition to your garden. They prefer well-drained soil; full sun or partial shade exposure is ideal. According to experts, frequent watering is also advised – as this will help boost plant health and productivity.
For optimum growth, they need nitrogen-rich fertilizer every two weeks during their growing season; adding some compost before planting helps too. If their needs are met with sufficient sunlight, regular watering, and timely fertilizer application, your turnips will grow quickly. In conclusion, turnips are a great crop to grow in your garden. With a growing time of 30 to 60 days, you can enjoy multiple harvests throughout the season.
How to Plant Turnips?
It’s possible to grow turnips right in your very own garden. Since they are root plants, they don’t transplant well from indoors, so it’s best to sow them directly into the soil. The turnip is a hardy crop that can withstand frost, meaning it should be planted five weeks before the last frost date in your area. Plant the seeds 1/2 inch deep and about an inch apart, setting rows of plants one foot apart for proper growth.
You can grow turnips twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Do not grow these plants over the summer months, as it will affect their quality and size. For planting these vegetables during the autumn or winter season, plant your seeds late in the summer to ensure you reap a rewarding harvest as soon as possible when cooler weather sets in. Whether growing greens or larger turnip roots, you’ll find plenty of reward with this versatile vegetable.
When to Harvest Turnips?
Harvesting turnips is a relatively straightforward process. If only the leaves are being harvested, they should be ready 40 to 55 days after planting. The leaves should be cut at 4-6 inches in height, leaving 1 inch of leaves above the plant’s crown. Once these leaves have been cut, new ones will grow in their place for subsequent harvests.
In contrast to harvesting just the leaves, if both the root and leaves are desired, the turnip should be dug from the ground when it is approximately 2 or 3 inches in diameter, depending on whether any of its leaves have already been harvested.
When harvesting roots and greens, care must be taken not to damage or bruise the turnip since it is a fragile vegetable that can easily break apart as it is pulled from its home in the soil.
How Much Water Do Turnips Needs?
Turnips are a vegetable with a short growing season; proper watering is essential for successful planting. To begin with, turnips germinate best in deeply watered soil, meaning the ground should be consistently moist even before the seeds are planted.
When the plants are established, it’s important to continue to water the turnip crop throughout its growth period. Applying 1 inch of water per week is typically adequate for optimal growth, and in very fast-draining sandy soils, this amount may even need to go up to 2 inches per week.
A drip irrigation system can work great for turnips because it will ensure the soil never completely dries out while the roots develop. This helps to keep weeds away while maintaining consistent moisture levels in hot weather and during periods of drought.
Additionally, drip systems help prevent diseases by keeping foliage dry while still providing enough water to grow healthy plants at an even pace without stunting them or scorching them in extreme temperatures. These systems are relatively easy to install and maintain, and they provide many benefits when it comes to watering turnips.
Dose Turnips Need Any Fertilizing?
Fertilizing turnips is important in ensuring that your crop produces a large and healthy harvest. The optimal fertilization time is once the seedlings have produced their first true leaves. When adding fertilizer, it is important to use a low-nitrogen or balanced fertilizer since nitrogen can cause the top to grow vigorously, interfering with the taproot’s development.
Look for a granular organic vegetable fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 5-10-10, as this will provide nutrients without too much nitrogen. If you haven’t amended the planting bed with compost before sowing turnips, you may choose to broadcast fertilizer over it.
When picking out what type of fertilizer to use, opt for something that comes in granular form rather than liquid or powdered varieties. Granulates are easier to spread evenly on the ground and last longer than other forms, thus allowing you to get more bang for your buck.
They also tend to be less hazardous since organic materials have been added, which helps reduce leaching into local waterways and prevents over-fertilizing your plants. It is also wise to consider one’s own soil quality before applying newly purchased.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
1. How Do You Know When The Turnip Is Ready To Harvest?
Turnips can be harvested 40-55 days after planting. Wait until the leaves reach a height of 4-6 inches before harvesting. When harvesting, cut the leaves from the plant, leaving 1 inch of leaves above the crown. New leaves will grow to replace those that were harvested.
2. What Month Is Best To Grow Turnips?
When it comes to growing turnips, the best time of year to plant them is late summer through early fall. This is because turnips need cool weather in order to grow and mature properly. Planting turnips in late summer gives them time to establish before cold temperatures arrive in the fall.
3. How Long Does It Take Turnips To Sprout?
Turnips are a cool-season crop that can be planted in spring and fall. Planting turnips in early spring will yield the best results, requiring only 40 to 55 days to reach maturity.
Depending on the variety of turnips being grown, it can take 1-3 weeks for the seeds to germinate and sprout up from the soil. Once established, turnips will continue to grow quickly and be ready for harvesting in a short amount of time.
4. What Is The Life Cycle Of Turnips?
The turnip (Brassica rapa) is a root vegetable part of the Brassicaceae family and includes vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts. The life cycle of a turnip begins with the germination of the seed. Under optimal conditions, it takes an average of 12-14 days for turnip seeds to grow.
5. Are Turnips Easy To Grow?
Turnips are relatively easy to grow and can add to any vegetable garden. Depending on the variety, turnips generally take 45-60 days to prepare for harvest. When planting turnips, it’s recommended to sow the seeds directly into the ground rather than start indoors and transplant them later.
Plant them in an area of your garden that receives full sun and is well-drained. When caring for turnips, be sure to provide them with adequate water and fertilizer. If you follow these steps, you should have a successful harvest of turnips in no time.
Conclusion
Turnips are a cool-weather crop that can be planted in spring and fall. It takes 1-3 weeks for the seeds to germinate, reaching maturity in 40 to 55 days. Fertilizing turnips with a low-nitrogen or balanced fertilizer is important when the seedlings produce their first true leaves. With proper care and attention, turnips can be harvested within 45 to 60 days.
