Keep rows 23cm apart and thin early, in stages, till turnips are 10cm apart. This is not so the root grows big, but grows fast. It is essential to thin early as seedlings that touch will never make good roots. The thinnings are delicious in salads.
How far apart should turnips be thinned?
three to six inches
Plant seeds one to two inches apart in rows 18 to 30 inches apart. Thin turnip seedlings leaving three to six inches between plants. Thin rutabagas to an eight-inch spacing. Drought stress can make turnips and rutabagas bitter or woody.
Can turnips get too big?
Crowded turnips will make very small roots. Most gardeners will tell you to aim for the size of a baseball. Overly large turnips will become tough. Thinned plants make excellent cooked greens, and may be tender enough for salads.
Do turnips need fertilizer?
Turnips need fertilizers for growth. Organic materials, such as manure and compost, and inorganic materials, such as chemicals, can be used to fertilize plants. The use of both types of materials usually provides excellent growth.
What month do you plant turnips?
Turnip greens are easy to grow in any well-drained soil. Set out turnip green plants 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost in spring and from late August to October for a fall crop in most areas. In zones 9 and 10 they can be planted throughout fall and winter.
How do you know when turnips are ready to harvest?
Turnips are ready to harvest 40 to 55 days after planting. If harvesting the leaves, they are ready when they reach 4-6 inches in height. If only harvesting the leaves, cut them from the plant when they reach the desired size, leaving 1 inch of leaves above the crown of the plant.
Why are my turnips all tops?
Too Much Nitrogen: Soil too rich in nitrogen tends to give turnips with an abundance of foliage, but an underdeveloped root. This could have happened if you applied a very nitrogen-rich fertilizer or a heavy application of fresh manure or compost.
Can I cut back turnip leaves?
Use scissors or garden shears for “cut and come again” harvesting. Cut the leaves off near the ground starting on the outside. New leaflets will come in after a week or two. These will mature to a smaller size than the original batch but you will be able to get another harvest off the plant.
What happens if you leave turnips in the ground too long?
Don’t leave them for too long, or they’ll become tough and somewhat bitter. Depending on the variety and growing conditions, you may be able to get a repeated harvest of the greens from your crop.
Will turnips come back every year?
Now Answered. Dill, radishes, arugula, cilantro, broccoli raab, turnips, and any form of mustard will yield mature seeds in time for fall reseeding in most regions if allowed to flower and set seed.
What do you do with a giant turnip?
Use turnips any way you would use a potato, and then some. Try them baked or boiled in stews, soups and stir-fries, or lightly steamed with some butter, salt or lemon juice for flavor.
Do turnips need lots of water?
At least 1 inch of water per week is vital for good root development. Turnips need to grow quickly, and regular water along with a rich soil, will help them do that. Dryer conditions make the roots more pungent, while uniform water makes for the best flavor.
What is the best fertilizer for purple top turnips?
Below are some of the most recommended (while still easy to find) fertilizers you can use for either turnips (roots) or turnip greens.
- Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed All Purpose Plant Food.
- Urban Farm Fertilizers All-Purpose Vegetable Fertilizer.
- Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food.
What is the best fertilizer for turnip greens?
Mix well-rotted manure or compost into the soil before you plant turnips for their greens. If you don’t have compost, mix about 1/4 cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer into the soil for every 10 feet of plants.
Is Miracle Grow good for turnips?
Miracle-Gro Shake n Feed. This is one of the best garden fertilizers for providing continuous micronutrients to help Turnips grow strong and produce more.
Do turnips like manure?
Feed turnip plants with natural fertilizer containing potassium and phosphorous, such as compost tea, for good root development. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers like manure, which can give turnips an unpleasant flavor.
Is bone meal good for turnips?
Turnips also prefer soils rich in potassium and phosphorus, but not in nitrogen. Adding bone meal and wood ashes to the soil before planting helps increase potassium and phosphorus levels. Water your turnip plants at a rate of about 1 inch per week and be sure the soil is well drained.
Can turnips be overwatered?
Turnips also thrive with consistent and regular moisture. They can develop mildew or other fungal infections if you overwater them or if their leaves become too wet. It’s best to water them more frequently with smaller amounts of water and to water them below their leaves rather than from overhead.
Can you leave turnips in the ground?
Turnips may be left in the garden as long as the ground does not freeze. In warmer climates, this can mean staying in the ground well into fall and even into winter.
How late can you plant turnips for deer?
Turnips can be planted in late summer in northern climates or early fall in the southern states. Different turnip varieties produce different proportions of leaves and roots.
How do you pick turnips so it keeps growing?
Harvest greens when turnips are small; the leaves taste best when young and tender. Cut leaves 2 inches above the base; they may grow back. Harvest jut a few at a time, if also growing for roots. Harvest roots at any time; however, small, young turnips are more tender.