Turnip
Brassica rapa subsp. rapa
Grown here for the roots, the greens, or both, from one autumn or late-winter sowing.
When to plant in Washington
Turnip is planted more than once a year here. Both windows are shown below and labelled; they are two separate plantings, not one long one, and the months between them are not part of either.
- Direct sow · SeptemberOpen now
September 1, 2026 – October 31, 2026
UF/IFAS North Florida planting dates: September to October.
- Direct sow · JanuaryOpens in 12 weeks
January 1, 2027 – April 30, 2027
UF/IFAS North Florida planting dates: January to April.
- Harvest · OctoberOpens in 5 days
October 11, 2026 – December 30, 2026
Derived, not published as a window by the guide: the September to October planting plus the guide's 40–60 days to harvest from sowing.
- Harvest · FebruaryOpens in 18 weeks
February 10, 2027 – June 29, 2027
Derived, not published as a window by the guide: the January to April planting plus the guide's 40–60 days to harvest from sowing.
Growing it
- Days to maturity
- 40–60
- Sun
- Full Sun
Turnips are direct sown and grown either for roots or for greens, and the variety decides which. Roots left too long in warming soil turn woody, so the end of the spring window matters more than the start of it.
From the guide: UF/IFAS gives the North Florida planting dates for this crop as January to April, and again September to October. It gives 40–60 days from seed to harvest, 2–6 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, sown ¼–½ in. deep. On the crop itself it says: Quick-growing, cool weather crop. Grow for roots and tops. Thin early to allow for root expansion. Smaller roots (2 in.) are milder in flavor.
Where these dates come from: the North Florida column of the UF/IFAS Extension Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP 103/VH021), which defines North Florida as everything above State Road 40. Walton County is well inside it, and the Central and South Florida columns of the same table give different months. The guide is written for home and market gardens, so its spacing and days-to-harvest figures are a starting point for a field planting rather than a commercial schedule, and days to harvest varies by variety.
Common problems
- Aphids
- Flea beetles
- Cabbage looper
- Root-knot nematode
- Downy mildew