Turnip Seeds - Seven Top

Minimum Seeds per Packet: 500

Packet Weight: 2g

Planting Season: Spring or Fall

Sowing Method: Direct Seed

Seed Depth: 1/2"

Direct Seed Spacing: 1"

Soil Temperature: 50-75 ℉

Days to Sprout: 5-15

Mature Spacing: 3-6"

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Frost Tolerance: Frost Tolerant

Days to Harvest: 60

When to Seed Turnips

Turnips are a cool season crop that should be planted in spring or fall. For spring turnips, sow seeds directly in the garden three weeks before your last frost date. For fall turnips, sow seeds directly in midsummer, about sixty days before the first frost date. Fall turnips are typically sweeter than spring turnips.

Where to Plant Turnips

They’ll need a location with full sun, at least six hours of sunlight, if not a little more. Soil that is rich in organic matter and loosened to a depth of 12 to 15 inches will be best. 

Growing Turnips

Sow seeds ½ inch deep and one inch apart. Water well until germination. As your seeds grow and mature, thin them to their mature planting distance of five inches. Turnips need at least one inch of water per week. Too much water can cause them to rot. 

Harvesting Turnips

Mature turnips should be ready to harvest one to two months after planting. If you’re unsure, check the days to harvest information found on the seed packet.

Turnip, Brassica rapa

Pollination, insect; Life Cycle, biennial; Isolation Distance, ½ mile

Turnips are an insect pollinated biennial that do not flower and set seed until the following season. Leave a ½ mile between what you are growing and any other Brassica rapa to prevent crossing. This includes members of the Broccoli Raab family. Plant at least 6 different to ensure reasonable genetic diversity. After flowers have turned to seed, leave the seed pods to mature and dry on the plant for as long as possible before gathering. Once the plant material is so dry it crumbles at your touch, you can separate the seeds from the pods and winnow away the chaff.