GrowSabzHow to grow turnip in pots
Also called White Turnip, Purple Top Turnip, shaljam, lift · Brassica rapa subsp. rapa
شلجم
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 6–8hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 0.8 Levery 2 days, 10 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 10–18°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 10 L20 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 30–60days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 3 kgper 20 L pot
Turnip is one of the fastest things you can grow — roughly 45 days from sowing to harvest. That makes it forgiving of mistakes, because a failed sowing costs you weeks rather than a season, and it's a good crop to slot between slower ones.
Short answer
Grow turnip in a 10 litre container at least 20 cm deep, watering about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil every 2 days, and keep temperatures between 10 and 18 °C. First harvest comes 30–60 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does turnip need?
10 litres and 20 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 10 L | 20 cm | Use pots with good drainage. |
| Grow bag | 10 L | 20 cm | Fabric bags provide good aeration for roots. |
| Open ground | — | 25 cm | Ensure well-drained soil and proper spacing. |
| Raised bed | 20 L | 25 cm | Ideal for controlling soil quality and drainage. |
Watering
How often should you water turnip?
Every 2 days through the growing season, at about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil — daily in hot weather, every 4 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Soaker hose or drip irrigation works best.
Too little water
- wilting leaves
- slow growth
- woody roots
- bitter taste
Too much water
- yellowing leaves
- stunted growth
- root rot
Avoid: fluctuating moisture; shallow watering; waterlogging.
Climate
Can you grow turnip where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 10 – 18 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | -5 – 25 °C |
| Germinates above | 4 °C — best at 18 °C, about 5 days |
| Flowers drop | above 24 °C |
| Sunlight | 6–10 hrs/day, best 8 |
| Frost | Low sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 25 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for turnip? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Turnip growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for turnip
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why turnip fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 10 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Turnip wants about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 24 °C flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Planting it beside Mustard
All members of the Brassica family (like mustard) compete for similar nutrients and share common pests and diseases, increasing risk.
Companions
What to plant with turnip
Good neighbours
Nitrogen-fixing plants that enrich the soil, benefiting turnips which are heavy feeders.
Similar to peas, beans fix nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility for turnips.
Deters flea beetles and other common turnip pests with its strong scent.
Helps deter cabbage moths and other brassica pests that can affect turnips.
Act as a trap crop for aphids, drawing them away from turnips, and can deter some beetles.
Keep apart from
All members of the Brassica family (like mustard) compete for similar nutrients and share common pests and diseases, increasing risk.
Another Brassica, it will compete with turnips for soil nutrients and water, potentially stunting growth.
Can attract similar pests and diseases, and compete heavily for soil resources.
Grapes can inhibit the growth of many vegetables, including turnips, due to allelopathic effects.
Problems
Turnip pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Flea Beetles humidity any · temp >18
Small, shiny black beetles that jump when disturbed. They chew tiny holes in leaves, especially on young seedlings, stunting growth.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and undersides of leaves, sucking sap and causing distorted growth. Can transmit viruses.
Cabbage Worms humidity any · temp 18-30
Green caterpillars that chew large, irregular holes in leaves. They can quickly defoliate plants if not controlled.
Root Maggots humidity any · temp cool, moist
Larvae of a small fly that tunnel into turnip roots, causing stunted growth, wilting, and decay. Often leads to plant death.
Clubroot humidity high · temp 18-25 · soil_pH <7.0
A soil-borne fungal disease that causes swollen, distorted roots, leading to stunted growth and wilting. No cure, prevention is key.
Downy Mildew humidity >80% · temp 10-20
Yellowish spots on the upper leaf surface with fuzzy gray mold on the underside. Can cause leaves to turn brown and die.
Powdery Mildew humidity 50-70% · temp 20-27
White, powdery fungal spots appear mainly on the upper surface of leaves. Causes leaves to yellow and die off prematurely.
Alternaria Leaf Spot humidity high · temp 20-28
Dark, circular spots with concentric rings (target-like) on older leaves. Can lead to defoliation and reduced yield.
Scab humidity any · temp any · soil_pH >6.0
Causes rough, corky, or pitted lesions on the surface of the turnip roots, reducing marketability and quality.
Bolting humidity any · temp >25 or <10 · stress water stress
Premature flowering and seed production, often triggered by sudden temperature changes or stress. Makes roots woody and bitter.
Harvest
When to harvest turnip
First picking falls between day 30 and day 60.
How to tell it's ready
- Roots are 2-4 inches in diameter (or desired size for baby turnips)
- Roots are firm and smooth
- Leaves are vibrant green (can also be harvested young)
How much to expect
Storing it: Remove greens (store separately), wash roots, and store in a cool, dark place or refrigerator for several weeks.
Questions
Turnip: common questions
How long does turnip take to grow?
About 45 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 30 and day 60. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does turnip need?
At least 10 litres and 20 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 20 litres of soil and 25 cm of depth.
How often should I water turnip?
About 700 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 2 days in normal weather — daily when it is hot and every 4 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
Why is my turnip flowering but not fruiting?
Almost always pollination. Turnip carries separate male and female flowers and needs pollen moved between them — without insects, nothing sets. Hand-pollinate in the morning with a male flower brushed against the centre of a female one.
What temperature does turnip need?
It does best between 10 °C and 18 °C and survives from -5 °C to 25 °C. Seed needs soil above 4 °C to germinate, ideally around 18 °C.
Can I grow turnip in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about -5 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when turnip is ready to harvest?
Roots are 2-4 inches in diameter (or desired size for baby turnips); Roots are firm and smooth; Leaves are vibrant green (can also be harvested young). Once picked: remove greens (store separately), wash roots, and store in a cool, dark place or refrigerator for several weeks.