How to grow turnips in a raised bed

Turnips are a fast, hardy dual-purpose crop — sweet young roots and tasty leafy tops, both ready in weeks. A great cool-season filler for a raised bed's loose mix.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun to part shade
• Spacing: 10 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 35 cm depth
• Time to harvest: 6–10 weeks

When should I plant turnips?

Turnips grow best in the cool — sow directly from late summer through winter. They mature fast, so sow a short row every few weeks. Our free garden calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

• Subtropical (Brisbane & SEQ): March to August
• Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth): February to May and August to October
• Cool & mountain (Tasmania, Canberra, highlands): January to March and August to October
• Tropical (Cairns, Darwin): April to July
• Arid inland: February to August

How do I grow turnips in a raised bed?

Sow seed into loose, fine mix and thin the seedlings so the roots can swell. Quick and undemanding, they slot in between slower crops.

How often should I water and feed turnips?

Keep the mix evenly moist for tender, mild roots — a dry check makes them woody and hot.

What pests attack turnips?

Keep an eye out for aphids, caterpillars and slugs and snails. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

What diseases affect turnips?

The main ones are downy mildew and leaf spot. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.

What grows well with turnips?

The leafy tops are edible greens; keep brassicas away from strawberries. See our companion planting guide.

When do I harvest turnips?

Pull young, at golf-ball to tennis-ball size — bigger ones turn woody. Pick a few outer leaves for greens along the way.

More growing guides: swede, daikon and sweet potato.

Plan your patch: our free garden calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Miya, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.