How to Grow Turnips UK | Complete Growing Guide

How to Grow Turnips UK

Fast-growing and versatile, turnips can be harvested as tender baby roots in summer or left to bulk up for hearty autumn and winter meals.

Not sure when to sow? See our When to Plant Turnips UK →

Turnip Growing Calendar

Task	Timing	Notes
Sow (spring crop)	February – May	Under cover from Feb; outdoors from March
Sow (autumn crop)	July – August	Direct sow for roots to harvest Oct–Dec
Thin seedlings	2–3 weeks after sowing	Thin to 15cm apart; rows 30cm apart
Harvest (baby)	5–6 weeks after sowing	Golf-ball size; sweetest flavour
Harvest (maincrop)	8–10 weeks after sowing	Tennis-ball size; before hard frost

Sowing Turnips

Turnips are direct sown — they dislike root disturbance. Sow seeds 1cm deep in rows 30cm apart. For a spring crop, sow under cloches or fleece from February, or outdoors from March once soil reaches 7°C. For an autumn/winter crop, sow July to August for harvest from October.

Turnips are ideal for succession sowing every 3–4 weeks from March to May to extend the harvest window through summer. Germination is rapid — typically 5–7 days in warm soil.

Growing Conditions

Soil

Turnips prefer a firm, fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5–7.0. Like all brassicas, they are susceptible to club root in acidic soils — lime if pH is below 6.5. Avoid freshly manured ground, which causes forked or hairy roots.

Position

Full sun is ideal, though turnips tolerate light shade. They prefer cool conditions and bolt (run to seed) in prolonged heat, so spring and autumn sowings perform best in the UK.

Watering

Keep soil consistently moist. Irregular watering causes roots to split or become woody. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than little and often, especially during dry spells in summer.

Best Varieties

Purple Top Milan

Fast-maturing, flat-topped roots with purple shoulders. Excellent for baby turnips. Harvest 5–6 weeks from sowing. Very popular in UK gardens.

Golden Ball

Yellow-fleshed, sweet and mild. Good for autumn sowing. Stores well and is more resistant to bolting than white varieties.

Atlantic

Reliable maincrop variety with good club root resistance. White-fleshed, firm roots. Ideal for late summer sowing and winter harvest.

Regional Timing

Region	First Sow (outdoors)	Last Sow (autumn)
South England	Early March	Mid-August
Midlands / Wales	Mid-March	Early August
North England	Late March	Late July
Scotland	Early April	Mid-July

Top 3 Mistakes to Avoid

Sowing in summer heat. Turnips bolt quickly in hot weather. Avoid sowing June–early July — stick to spring and late summer sowings for best results.
Leaving roots too long. Turnips become woody and bitter if left past tennis-ball size. Harvest promptly, especially baby turnips at golf-ball stage.
Ignoring flea beetle. Tiny holes in seedling leaves are flea beetle damage. Cover with fine mesh immediately after sowing — young plants are most vulnerable.

Companion Planting

Nasturtiums — trap crop for aphids and flea beetle
Peas — fix nitrogen; excellent predecessors for turnips
Lettuce — good interplant between rows; uses space efficiently
Avoid: other brassicas (cabbage, swede, kale) — share club root and flea beetle risk; rotate on a 4-year cycle

Main Pest Risk

Flea beetle is the primary threat to turnip seedlings — tiny shotholes appear in leaves within days of germination. Cover with fine insect mesh (0.8mm) immediately after sowing and keep covered until plants are established. Club root is the second major risk — lime soil to pH 7.0+ and rotate brassicas on a 4-year cycle. Cabbage root fly can also attack — use brassica collars around the base of plants.

🌱 Did You Know?

Turnip tops (the young leaves) are edible and highly nutritious — they're popular in Italian cuisine as cime di rapa. In the UK, they can be harvested as a cut-and-come-again green in spring, weeks before the roots are ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I sow turnips in the UK?

Sow turnips outdoors from March to May for a summer crop, or July to August for an autumn and winter harvest. Avoid sowing in June and early July when heat causes bolting. In colder regions, start under cloches in February.

How long do turnips take to grow?

Baby turnips are ready in as little as 5–6 weeks from sowing. Maincrop turnips take 8–10 weeks. Succession sowing every 3–4 weeks from March to May gives a continuous harvest through summer.

Why are my turnips woody or bitter?

Turnips become woody and bitter if left in the ground too long or if they experience water stress. Harvest at golf-ball to tennis-ball size and water consistently to keep roots tender and sweet.

How do I stop flea beetle attacking my turnips?

Cover seedbeds with fine insect mesh (0.8mm) immediately after sowing and keep covered until plants are well established. Flea beetle is most damaging to seedlings in the first 3–4 weeks. Nasturtiums nearby can act as a trap crop.

Can I eat turnip leaves?

Yes — turnip tops are edible and nutritious. Harvest young leaves as a cut-and-come-again green in spring. They're best lightly steamed or stir-fried and have a mild, slightly peppery flavour similar to spring greens.