Intermediate Turnip Growing: Varieties, Succession & Season Extension

Ready to elevate your turnip growing? This intermediate guide explores the full diversity of turnip varieties, teaches succession planting for continuous harvest, and reveals techniques for managing common challenges. Whether you're growing for farmers markets or a well-stocked root cellar, these techniques will enhance your turnip production.

Comprehensive Variety Selection

Understanding Turnip Categories

Turnips are classified by several characteristics:

By Root Color:

White (most common): Purple Top, Hakurei
Purple/White bicolor: Purple Top White Globe
Yellow/Golden: Golden Ball, Petrowski
Red: Scarlet Queen, Red Round
Pink: Pink Beauty

By Primary Use:

Salad/raw eating (Hakurei types)
Cooking (standard types)
Storage (large, dense types)
Greens (Seven Top, All Top)
Forage/Cover crop (large leafy types)

Detailed Variety Guide

Japanese/Salad Turnips (30-45 days):

Variety	Days	Size	Features
Hakurei	38	2"	Sweet, crisp, eat raw
Tokyo Cross	35	2-6"	Hybrid, all-white, smooth
Tokyo Market	35	2"	Tender, mild
Oasis	42	2-3"	Holds well, sweet
Market Express	38	2-3"	Very fast

Standard/Cooking Turnips (45-60 days):

Variety	Days	Size	Features
Purple Top White Globe	55	3-4"	Classic, reliable
Purple Top Milan	45	3-4"	Flattened, early
White Egg	45	2-3"	Egg-shaped, sweet
Scarlet Queen	45	2-3"	Red skin, white flesh
Golden Ball	55	3-4"	Yellow, mild, stores well

Storage/Winter Turnips (55-70 days):

Variety	Days	Size	Features
Gilfeather	85	4-6"	Vermont heirloom, excellent keeper
Amber Globe	70	4-5"	Yellow, very hardy
Petrowski	50	3"	Yellow, sweet, stores 6 months

Greens Varieties:

Variety	Days	Features
Seven Top	40	Greens only, small roots
All Top	45	Virus-resistant, aphid tolerant
Topper	35	Quick greens production
Shogoin	30	Japanese, tender greens

Variety Selection Strategy

For Continuous Fresh Harvest:

Early: Hakurei, Tokyo Cross (30-40 days)
Mid: Purple Top Milan (45 days)
Late: Purple Top White Globe (55 days)
Succession plant every 2-3 weeks

For Storage:

Golden Ball, Gilfeather, Amber Globe
Plant in late summer for fall harvest
Allow slight frost exposure to sweeten

For Market Sales:

Hakurei (premium salad turnips)
Purple Top White Globe (recognizable classic)
Bunched with greens (higher perceived value)

Succession Planting

Planning Your Harvest Calendar

Spring Succession (Zones 5-7):

Planting Date	Variety Type	Harvest Window
March 15	Hakurei, early types	May 1-15
April 1	Standard types	May 15-June 1
April 15	Standard types	June 1-15
—	Summer gap (too hot)	—

Fall Succession (Zones 5-7):

Planting Date	Variety Type	Harvest Window
July 15	Standard types	Sept 1-15
August 1	Standard, storage	Sept 15-Oct 15
August 15	Standard, storage	Oct 1-Nov 1
September 1	Storage types	Oct 15-winter storage

Calculating Quantities

For Family of 4:

Weekly consumption: 2-4 lbs
Growing time: ~50 days average
Recommendation: Plant 10-15 row feet every 2-3 weeks

For Farmers Market:

Track customer demand
Bundle with greens for higher value
Hakurei types command premium prices

Soil and Nutrient Management

Ideal Soil Conditions

Soil Test Targets:

Parameter	Optimal Range	Adjustment
pH	6.0-6.8	Lime if low
Organic Matter	3-5%	Add compost
Nitrogen	Low-moderate	Don't over-apply
Phosphorus	30-50 ppm	Bone meal if low
Potassium	150-200 ppm	Greensand if low

Fertilization Program

Pre-Plant:

Incorporate 2-3 inches of aged compost
Apply low-nitrogen fertilizer (5-10-10) at 2 lbs/100 sq ft
Avoid fresh manure (causes forked roots)

Growing Season:

Timing	Application	Rate
At thinning	Side-dress 5-10-10	1 tbsp/row foot
3 weeks later (if needed)	Fish emulsion	2 tbsp/gallon

Note: Over-fertilization (especially nitrogen) produces all tops and small roots.

Cover Cropping Integration

Turnips themselves make excellent cover crops:

Planted after main crop harvest
Deep taproot breaks up compaction
Killed by hard freeze, adds organic matter
Forage varieties for livestock grazing

Integrated Pest Management

Pest Identification and Control

Flea Beetles: Most common turnip pest.

Control Method	Timing	Effectiveness
Row covers	At planting	Excellent
Kaolin clay	Pre-emergence	Good
Trap crops (radish)	Early spring	Moderate
Spinosad	Active infestation	Good

Root Maggots (Delia spp.):

Life Stage	Description	Location
Adult	Small gray fly	Lays eggs at plant base
Larva	White maggot	Tunnels in roots
Pupa	Brown	In soil

Prevention:

Row covers (most effective)
Crop rotation (don't follow alliums or brassicas)
Late planting (miss spring flight)
Paper collars around stems

Aphids (Turnip Aphid, Lipaphis erysimi): Vector for turnip mosaic virus.

Control	Method
Prevention	Reflective mulch, row covers
Physical	Strong water spray
Biological	Ladybugs, lacewings
Organic spray	Insecticidal soap, neem

Disease Prevention

Clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae): Devastating soil-borne disease.

Prevention Strategy	Implementation
pH management	Raise to 7.0-7.2
Rotation	7+ years away from brassicas
Clean transplants	Use certified disease-free
Drainage	Improve if waterlogged

Black Rot (Xanthomonas campestris):

Prevention	Action
Seed treatment	Hot water (122°F, 25 min)
Sanitation	Remove infected plants
Rotation	2-3 year minimum
Irrigation	Avoid overhead watering

Turnip Mosaic Virus:

Prevention	Action
Aphid control	Primary vector management
Resistant varieties	All Top, Topper
Remove infected plants	Destroy, don't compost
Weed control	Remove wild brassica hosts

Season Extension Techniques

Row Cover Systems

Light Row Cover (0.5 oz):

Pest exclusion
2-3°F frost protection
Good for spring/fall

Heavy Row Cover (1.5 oz):

6-8°F frost protection
Extends fall harvest 4-6 weeks
Can overwinter in mild climates

Cold Frame Production

Setup:

South-facing orientation
Clear lid (glass or polycarbonate)
18" back, 12" front for drainage

Management:

Plant storage varieties in August
Move to cold frame as weather cools
Ventilate on sunny days above 40°F
Harvest as needed through winter

In-Ground Storage

Heavy Mulch Method:

Leave turnips in ground after maturity
Apply 8-12 inches of straw after first hard frost
Mark rows for location
Harvest by pulling back mulch
Works in zones 5-7 (colder may freeze)

Root Cellar Storage

Optimal Conditions:

Parameter	Specification
Temperature	32-40°F (0-4°C)
Humidity	90-95%
Duration	3-5 months
Preparation	Remove greens, don't wash

Harvesting Optimization

Harvest Timing

Type	Size at Harvest	Quality Indicator
Baby/Salad	1-2" diameter	Smooth, firm
Standard	2-4" diameter	Tops still vigorous
Storage	3-5" diameter	After light frost
Greens	4-8" leaves	Before yellowing

Post-Harvest Handling

For Fresh Market:

Harvest in morning (highest turgor)
Remove damaged outer leaves
Wash gently if selling bunched
Cool immediately (hydrocooling or shade)
Bundle greens with roots for premium price

For Storage:

Harvest after light frost (sweetens)
Leave 1" stem stub (prevents rot entry)
Cure at 50°F for 2-3 days
Store unwashed in cool, humid conditions

Troubleshooting Intermediate Issues

Problem: Roots splitting

Cause: Irregular watering, especially heavy rain after drought
Solution: Consistent irrigation, mulch

Problem: Hollow/pithy centers

Cause: Over-mature, heat stress, or boron deficiency
Solution: Harvest earlier, provide shade, soil test for boron

Problem: Strong, peppery flavor

Cause: Heat stress, water stress, or varietal characteristic
Solution: Grow in cool weather, consistent moisture, try milder varieties

Problem: Greens turning yellow

Cause: Nitrogen deficiency, water stress, or disease
Solution: Side-dress with nitrogen, consistent moisture, check for disease

Next Steps: Advancing Your Skills

Ready for more advanced techniques? Consider:

Commercial production for farmers markets
Cover cropping with turnips
Seed saving (biennial process)
Forage turnip production for livestock

With these intermediate techniques, you'll achieve consistent, high-quality turnip harvests from spring through winter storage.

Intermediate Turnip Growing: Varieties, Succession & Season Extension