Turnips are a great plant to grow, they have little problems and are quick growing (6-10 weeks) so can be used to fill spaces in your planting plans. They tend to be grown for the swollen stems but the leaves are also edible and can be used salads or in similar ways to chard or spinach.

How To Grow

Turnips like a sunny site and for the soil to be kept moist, so lots of organic matter in the soil to retain moisture is good. If they dry out for any period of time they have a tendency to bolt, set seed and fail to grow that swollen stem. It is best to sow seed direct in the soil as they don't like being transplanted. Sow half and inch (just over 1 cm) deep in rows (see spacing below). Water in well. Once the seedlings are a couple of inches high thin to the In Row spacings below. The thinings make an excellent salad. Keep well watered throughout the growing season.

How/When To Harvesting

To harvest loosen the soil and lift by the stem.