When to plant turnips by city
Sow turnips outdoors 2–4 weeks before your last frost. For a fall crop, sow 8–10 weeks before your first fall frost. Here is what that means for 2027 in cities across the US, using each city’s average frost dates (NOAA 1991–2020). Pick the city with the climate most like yours, or enter your ZIP code above.
| City | Last frost | Sow outdoors | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA (9a) | Mar 13 | Feb 13–27 | Sep 8–22 |
| Portland, OR (8b) | Feb 25 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Sacramento, CA (9b) | Jan 12 | Dec 15–29 | Oct 7–21 |
| Phoenix, AZ (10a) | Jan 5 | Dec 8–22 | Oct 25 – Nov 8 |
| Salt Lake City, UT (7b) | Mar 31 | Mar 3–17 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Denver, CO (6a) | Apr 30 | Apr 2–16 | Aug 3–17 |
| Dallas, TX (8b) | Mar 2 | Feb 2–16 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 |
| Minneapolis, MN (5a) | Apr 23 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Aug 7–21 |
| Kansas City, MO (6b) | Apr 4 | Mar 7–21 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Chicago, IL (6b) | Apr 10 | Mar 13–27 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 |
| Columbus, OH (6b) | Apr 20 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Aug 15–29 |
| Nashville, TN (7b) | Apr 1 | Mar 4–18 | Aug 22 – Sep 5 |
| Atlanta, GA (8a) | Mar 24 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Raleigh, NC (8a) | Mar 28 | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Philadelphia, PA (7b) | Mar 30 | Mar 2–16 | Sep 8–22 |
| Boston, MA (7a) | Apr 4 | Mar 7–21 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
In frost-free parts of Florida, southern California and the Gulf Coast, timing is about heat instead: grow turnips from fall through winter.
Turnip spacing
In a square-foot bed, plant 9 per square foot. In traditional rows, space plants about 4 inches apart with 12 inches between rows.
The greens are edible too. Best as a fall crop.
How to grow turnips
Turnips are quick, cold-tolerant and give two crops in one, roots and greens. They grow in spring but are at their best in fall, when cool weather keeps roots sweet and mild. Small white salad turnips are tender enough to eat raw.
Sun and soil
Full sun and loose, well-drained soil, pH about 6.0–7.0. Water 1–2 inches a week; uneven moisture makes roots woody, cracked and bitter.
Planting
- Sow ¼–½ inch deep 2–4 weeks before the last spring frost, once soil reaches about 45°F.
- Thin to 4 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart when seedlings have 3–4 true leaves. Use the thinnings as greens.
- For the main fall crop, sow 8–10 weeks before the first fall frost.
Care
- Keep watering steady and mulch to hold moisture.
- Side-dress lightly with nitrogen about 6 weeks after the seedlings emerge.
- Hot weather turns roots strong and woody, so avoid sowing in early summer.
- Light frosts improve flavor; roots tolerate light frost in the ground.
Harvest
Pull roots when they are 2–3 inches across; salad turnips are best at 1–2 inches. Larger roots get fibrous. Pick greens anytime once leaves are full size, taking a few older leaves from each plant. Washed roots keep for months near 32°F in high humidity.
Common problems
- Root maggots: Maggot tunnels in roots, worst in spring. Cover with row cover right after sowing and rotate brassicas.
- Flea beetles: Shot-hole damage on seedlings. Row cover at sowing; established plants tolerate some feeding.
- Aphids: Colonies on the undersides of leaves. Spray with water or insecticidal soap.
- Woody, bitter roots: Caused by heat, drought or harvesting too late. Grow as a fall crop and pick on time.
Varieties to try
- 'Purple Top White Globe' — classic all-purpose turnip
- 'Hakurei' — white salad turnip, sweet enough to eat raw
- 'Seven Top' — grown for greens only
Crop rotation
Turnips belong to the cabbage family (Brassicaceae). Clubroot and cabbage pests build up in the soil. Rotate for at least 3 years. Relatives that count as the same family for rotation: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, radish, arugula, bok choy, kohlrabi.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant turnips?
How far apart should I plant turnips?
How long do turnips take to grow?
Can turnips handle frost?
Sources
- Frost dates: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
- Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, USDA-ARS and PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University.
- Planting windows and spacing: Vegetable Planting Guide (GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension, and other land-grant extension guides.
- Rutabagas and Turnips in the Garden — Utah State University Extension