Many gardeners enjoy raising turnips and rutabagas because they are easy to grow and cold hardy. While both have best quality in cool weather, there are important differences between them.
Turnips are a form of Brassica rapa, the same species as bok choy and Chinese cabbage. Their quality can be poor when they grow in hot weather, or if they grow too large. Eat turnips while they are still young and tender. Their flesh is usually white, and you may eat them raw, cooked or pickled.
Rutabaga is a different species, Brassica napus. Harvest rutabagas when they have grown through summer into fall. They are typically harder and denser than turnips. Rutabagas usually have yellow flesh. You should eat rutabagas cooked.
As summer winds down and fall approaches you may be wondering if it’s too late to plant turnips for a fall harvest. Turnips are cool-weather loving root vegetables that can be planted in late summer or early fall for an autumn crop. With their quick maturation time, you can grow turnips even with limited time left in the growing season. But optimal timing is key for the best yields before winter arrives.
When is the Best Time to Plant Turnips?
Turnips thrive when daytime highs are 60-75°F and nighttime temps are around 40-50°F. This makes late summer to early fall ideal planting times in most regions.
In northern climates plant turnips in late July to mid August for maturity before frost. In the transition zone, target early August to early September for planting. For southern states, mid August through September is the prime window. Generally, aim to plant turnips 8-10 weeks before your average first fall frost for bulbing roots. Later plantings 4 weeks pre-frost will produce leafier tops.
Turnips grow best when temperatures are cooling, not still hot. Consistently warm weather above 80°F slows growth. Early fall plantings also avoid premature bolting and flowering that can happen if planted too early in summer. However, turnips need adequate time to mature before harsh winter conditions arrive.
How Late is Too Late for Planting Turnips?
It becomes risky to start turnips when:
- Daytime highs exceed 80°F and nights stay above 50°F
- Less than 4 weeks remain until your first fall frost date
- Drought conditions exist with little rainfall
- You are in northern climates already seeing frosts
At these points, turnip growth will really slow down without cooler fall weather. It’s best to forego planting turnips too late in fall and focus efforts on amending soil for spring planting instead.
Options for Very Late Fall Plantings
If you missed the ideal window but still want some fall forage, consider fast-growing alternatives like:
- Cereal grains – Oats, wheat and rye establish quickly in late fall.
- Hardy greens – Kale, collards, rape and mustard tolerate cooler weather.
- Clover – Frost seed clover to supplement existing grass.
- Cover crops – Till under unused plots to improve soil.
While possible, turnips themselves don’t perform as well when squeezed into the end of the growing season. Prioritize soil health for better spring yields.
Maximizing Growth of Late-Planted Turnips
When planting turnips late in the fall window, give them the best chance at limited time:
- Select fast-maturing varieties like Purple Top White Globe.
- Prepare soil by adding compost and organic matter.
- Allow 6 inches between plants to reduce competition.
- Use row covers to protect from early frost.
- Water regularly if rainfall is lacking.
- Harvest greens promptly to prevent bolting.
Even if roots don’t full mature, you can still get nutritious greens from late turnips. Focus on soil amendments for stronger starts next season.
Ideal Conditions for Late Turnips
The optimal scenario for turnips squeezed into the end of fall includes:
- Fertile, loose soil with added organic matter
- Sunny location
- Adequate and consistent irrigation
- Season extending covers if needed
- Longer time until first frost
- Low pest and disease pressure
- Cooling fall temperatures
This maximizes growth potential in the limited weeks left. But unusually warm or cold weather reduces results.
The Takeaway on Fall Turnip Planting
When is it too late to plant turnips? There’s no definitive cut-off, but fewer days until frost shrinks the window considerably. While possible, late plantings are much more challenging and may not yield full-sized roots. For best results, target the peak planting window for your area, adjusting based on climate and weather. But don’t abandon hope if you missed the mark. With protective measures and the right conditions, fast-growing turnip varieties can still produce greens and small roots into winter. Just be flexible and ready to shift plans if crops show signs of struggling as cooler weather closes in. With thoughtfully timed planting, you can enjoy the satisfying crunch of homegrown turnips through fall.
How to keep your turnip and rutabaga plants healthy and productive
- Although the storage root of these plants can be large, they do not have extensive root systems for absorbing water.
- The plants need to receive one inch of water per week, whether from natural rainfall or from irrigation. Drought stress can make them bitter or woody.
- Always soak the soil thoroughly when watering. This helps to promote good root development.
- If your soil is sandy, it is important to water more often than once a week.
- An inch of water will wet a sandy soil to a depth of ten inches, a heavy clay soil to six inches.
- Use a trowel to see how far down the soil is wet. If it is only an inch or two, keep the water running.
- Excessive rain is beyond the gardener’s control, but rutabagas will have more flavor, be firmer and store better after a relatively dry growing season than a wet one.
- Frequent, shallow cultivation will kill weeds before they become a problem.
- Turnips and rutabagas form roots very close to the surface of the soil. Cultivate just deeply enough to cut the weeds off below the surface of the soil.
- Be careful not to damage the plants when cultivating.
- Mulching with herbicide-free grass clippings, weed-free straw or other organic material to a depth of three to four inches can help prevent weed growth, decreasing the need for frequent cultivation.
- Root maggots feed on the developing roots.
- Flea beetles chew small, round holes in leaves. They can spread disease and destroy the crop, especially when the plants are very young.
- Harvest turnips when they reach a usable size, normally about two to three inches in width.
- Their shoulders are usually above the soil surface, so it is easy to tell how big they are.
- As the roots become larger, they are more likely to become bitter, strong-flavored, woody or fibrous.
- Spading the soil next to the plants will make them easier to pull.
- You can harvest the greens or “tops” of turnips and cook them as a savory vegetable.
- Cut the greens from the roots when you harvest the turnips, wash them and store separately. You can also use the greens when you thin crowded plants, before the roots begin to enlarge.
- Leave rutabagas in the ground until September, October or even later.
- Frost improves best flavor, so many gardeners wait until after at least one hard frost to dig them up.
- The roots can be quite large. Rather than trying to pull them up, it is best to dig them with a spading fork.
- Separate the turnip greens from the roots.
- Clean and store both roots and tops in the refrigerator for a week or two.
- Turnips lose moisture rapidly and you cannot store them long-term.
You can keep rutabagas for a long time in root cellar conditions: 32°F to 40°F, and 95% relative humidity. Under root cellar conditions, you can store rutabagas for up to five months. Remember that after a wet growing season, storage life is likely to be shorter.
If you plan to store them in the refrigerator, the rutabagas may sprout after a few weeks. The relative humidity in a modern refrigerator is quite low, so the roots may dry out.
To increase storage life, delay harvest as long as possible. Rutabagas will keep their quality in the ground for weeks. Once you harvest them, remove the tops and the long, thin taproot. Clean dirt off the skin, being careful not to cut or bruise the roots.
Grocery stores usually sell rutabagas with a coating of paraffin wax. This coating keeps them from shriveling on the display shelf. It is not part of long-term storage practice.
Turnips: Three Tips to Growing Them to a Good Size: Loose Soil, Low Nitrogen, Spacing -TRG 2016
FAQ
What is the latest you can plant turnips?
- Plant turnips beginning April 15 for a spring crop, and again August 1 for a fall crop. …
- Rutabagas require a longer growing season, but need to mature in cool weather, so you should plant them from late May to early June for a fall crop.
- Plant seeds one to two inches apart in rows 18 to 30 inches apart.
Is it too late to grow turnips?
The sowing season is from March to August, although sowings of early varieties can be made in February under cloches or in polytunnels.Apr 11, 2024
Can you plant turnips in summer?
Sowing in late summer is ideal, as the plants are cold hardy.Aug 25, 2021
Is it too late to plant turnips for deer?
archeryman32 is right. The best time to plant turnips is late July and no later then the first week of August. I have planted brassicas and turnips in the spring, but they typically do not go to bulb. The deer eat the leaves off and the plant dies.
Can you grow turnips late in fall?
The best scenario for growing turnips planted late in fall includes: Fertile, well-drained soil. Sunny location. Adequate irrigation. Season extending covers if needed. Low pest and disease pressure. Longer time until frost. Cooler temperatures with limited heat waves. Gradual temperature dip avoiding early cold snaps.
Are turnips high in sugar?
Turnips are a cruciferous vegetable that contain about 5 grams of natural sugars per 1 cup of the cooked bulb. Both turnip bulbs and turnip greens can be consumed. Turnips are not considered a high sugar vegetable, especially when compared to other more commonly eaten vegetables like peas, onions, and sweet corn. The sugar that is consumed via vegetables and fruits is not the same as consuming refined sugar from soda, candy, or condiments. Turnips are a health-promoting root vegetable rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial plant compounds.
When should you plant turnips?
For an autumn harvest, sow turnips in late summer after summer crops of onions, squash, beans, or sweet corn. For a later autumn harvest, sow seeds in early autumn. Before planting, mix in a nice low organic fertilizer (such as a 5-5-5) about 12 inches into the soil.
What happens if you plant a turnip too early?
In fall, turnips planted too early may bolt and flower prematurely in late summer heat. Planted too late, they won’t size up adequately before harsh winter weather arrives. Navigating the fall planting window is key to success. Use these general benchmarks to target your fall turnip planting window:
How do you plant turnips in fall?
Turnips thrive in cooler temperatures, making fall an ideal planting time. The cooler weather encourages lush foliage growth and sweet, tender roots. Before planting, prepare the soil by loosening it and removing any weeds or debris. Turnips prefer well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Why is my turnip growing so slow?
Several conditions can shrink the window for optimal fall turnip establishment: Northern location – Earlier frosts limit growing season. Drought – Lack of moisture stresses plants and speeds maturity. Extreme heat – Lingering summer temperatures cause bolting. Poor soil – Reduced fertility inhibits fast growth.