Planting Tips: Although you may plant turnips in the spring, many folks opt to plant theirs in the late summer for a fall crop. This often lets you skip insect pressure and results in a finer-textured, crisp, sweet turnip. The old-timers used to say, “The 27th of July, plant turnips, wet or dry.” We plant ours a bit earlier because our winters come early and often with a bang, but most gardeners can plant either in the spring or late summer for a fall harvest. Plant your turnips in rows about 1/4″ deep and three inches apart. When they’re growing well, thin if necessary to give them good spacing.

Harvesting Tips: You may harvest some of the greens for cooked dishes or salads while the plants are still growing. When the turnips reach about 2″ to 4″ in diameter, harvest them by cutting off the tops about an inch above the root. Turnips store well in cool root cellars or unheated basements, staying crisp and sweet for months.

Seed Saving Tips: Turnips are biennial, meaning they must be replanted in spring to send up seed heads. In milder climates, you can overwinter part of a row under mulch. In the spring, remove the mulch and let the turnips begin growing again—they’ll soon send up seed stalks and form seed pods. When the stalks are dry, cut them off and place in a paper bag. Shake or crush gently to release the seed, then allow it to dry completely before storing in an airtight container.