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Vegetable · Easy to grow
Turnip
Brassica rapa subsp. rapa
A quick, easy root crop ready in 6 to 10 weeks. In Adelaide, sow from late summer through autumn and again in late winter; roots grown into summer heat turn woody and hot. The young leaves are edible too.
- SunFull sun
- Spacing15 cm apart
- First pick6–10 weeks
- FrostFrost hardy
- HeatStruggles in heat
- Sow depth10 mm
When to plant where you live
Checking your area…
Add turnip to my gardenVarieties (3)
- Golden BallYellow flesh with a mild, sweet flavour
- Hakurei (Japanese turnip)Small, sweet white roots eaten raw or cooked; very fast
- Purple Top White GlobeClassic white root with a purple shoulder; can stand in the ground over the cooler months
Neighbours
Grows well with
Keep away from
From seed to plate
Plant
15 cm apart, rows 30 cm, seed 10 mm deep. Full sun.
Water
Regular, even watering.
Feed
Compost before sowing; little else.
Pick, from about 6 weeks
Pull at 5 to 10 cm across.
Good to know
- Sow direct and thin; turnips do not like being transplanted
- Harvest before plants flower or roots become fibrous
- Do not sow where cabbage, broccoli or other brassicas grew last season
- Mulch with pea straw to keep moisture even
Common problems
- Woody or split rootscaused by heat and uneven watering; keep moist and harvest young
- Cabbage white caterpillars and aphids on leavescover with insect mesh, hose off aphids
- Crowded, small rootsthin seedlings early to 15 cm apart
If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.
Where this information comes from
- ABC Gardening Australia plant finder: Turnips and swedes (growing, medium confidence, checked 29 Oct 2026)
- Yates Australia: How to grow turnips (growing, medium confidence, checked 29 Oct 2026)
- Sustainable Gardening Australia: monthly planting guides (sowing window, low confidence)
Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 29 Oct 2026. Version 1.