Turnip Tips

[Piggi1]

I'm trying to grow some purpletop turnips and I believe that now is near the time to plant. I live in SE Ohio in the middle of zones 6a and 6b. The 10 day forecast gives me a low of 27F, although I'm not sure how much I believe that number. Last fall I tried to sow them directly, but they never sprouted. This time I plan to sprout them before planting, and this time with better soil. I'm still not sure exactly when to plant them though. I was thinking this week or next week. I'm new to all of this so I'd appreciate any tips.

Wait for the cold to pass turnips can be sensitive to frost early on. If you're sprouting them indoors, you can plant in a week or two, once the risk of frost drops. Just make sure the soil is well drained and they get plenty of sun

 

[someone_random]

Alright guys, the turnips I sprouted in a plastic bag are now out of the ground. I started sprouting them on the 8th and planted three rows of them on the 11th. I direct-sowed four rows on the 10th. Today's the 15th, so going from plastic bag to turnips coming out of the ground took 7 days. If the direct-sowed turnips aren't up by the 17th, then that concludes that sprouting in the plastic bag saved me time.

This is exciting lol

 

[someone_random]

Alright, the direct-sows are starting to sprout. Looks like the plastic bag method did save me some time, so I'll do that in the future. Tomorrow morning I reckon more of them will be up, given that the first row has already risen. The next few days have lows that dip below freezing so let's see if my sprouts will survive.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Saw a tip that as turnips are quick growing they can be intercropped with other things, tried it last year with not too much success, I think because I started late, but trying again this year. If it doesn't work I'll go back to lettuce

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Alright, the direct-sows are starting to sprout. Looks like the plastic bag method did save me some time, so I'll do that in the future. Tomorrow morning I reckon more of them will be up, given that the first row has already risen. The next few days have lows that dip below freezing so let's see if my sprouts will survive.

Saved growing time, but how about work time? It must be quicker to draw out a drill with a hoe and sprinkle some seed than bagging them, and then separating and planting them out surely? Your time against the plant's time.
Edit, mind, I suppose you don't have to thin them.

 

[someone_random]

If anyone's curious, this is what an aborted turnip looks like (from thinning the group of direct-sows). I honestly find it fascinating how fast the taproot grows. I wonder how long the taproot is when the leaves pop out of the ground?

 

[Meadowlark]

They eventually extend the roots about 12 inches depending on the soil and environmental factors. One reason they make such a good cover crop when mixed with legumes in my garden.

 

[someone_random]

I learned a valuable lesson and I want to share it with y'all: it's possible for turnips to sprout in a way that it looks like there are two stems coming out, but it's one plant. I killed 3 plants because I thought I was thinning out two separate turnips. I still have time to replant them, but it's kinda tragic lol.

 

[someone_random]

Ok, question: what's going on with this turnip? Is this one plant outputting multiple stems, or are these multiple roots competing with each other? I confused those and killed some plants earlier, so I didn't want to touch this. Should I just leave this be? (btw the yellow stuff is tomato skin)

 

[Meadowlark]

... Should I just leave this be?

Yes, that would be my approach. Any intervention will likely kill some of them plus, the turnips have a way of the strongest survive...and make a turnip.

 

[Ruderunner]

Personally I don't thin root vegetables very much. Certainly not this early. Give them a month at least then decide which are or aren't desirable.