If you’re planning a garden in Oklahoma, knowing when to plant turnips is key to a great harvest. This guide covers the best planting times for turnips in our state, helping you get your crop off to a perfect start.
Turnips are a fantastic choice for Oklahoma gardeners. They’re tough, grow quickly, and you can eat both the roots and the greens. With our unique climate, timing your planting right makes all the difference between a bumper crop and a disappointing one. Let’s get your turnip patch planned.
When to Plant Turnips in Oklahoma – Best Planting Times For
The ideal planting times for turnips in Oklahoma revolve around our hot summers and mild winters. Turnips are a cool-season crop, meaning they thrive in cooler temperatures and can even handle a light frost.
Spring Planting Window
For a spring harvest, you need to plant early. The goal is to get turnips mature before the intense summer heat arrives, which can make them woody and bitter.
- Best Dates: Plant seeds directly in the garden 4 to 6 weeks before the last average spring frost date.
- General Timeline: For most of Oklahoma, this falls between late February and mid-March. In southern parts of the state, you can start as early as February. In the cooler northern regions, aim for mid-to-late March.
- Pro Tip: Soil temperature is a great indicator. Aim for a soil temp of at least 40°F for germination, with 60°F being ideal.
Fall Planting Window (The Prime Time)
Fall is often the best and most productive season for growing turnips in Oklahoma. The cooling temperatures are perfect for sweet, crisp roots and tender greens.
- Best Dates: Plant seeds 6 to 8 weeks before the first average fall frost date.
- General Timeline: This means planting from late August through mid-September across the state. Some gardeners sucessfully plant into early October for a late fall or early winter harvest.
- Why Fall is Better: Pests are less of a problem, and the cool nights enhance the turnip’s flavor. You can also make sucesive plantings every two weeks for a continuous harvest.
Using Frost Dates as Your Guide
Your local frost dates are your best calendar. Look up your area’s average last spring frost and first fall frost dates. The Oklahoma Mesonet is a excellent resource for local climate data to help you plan.
Variety Selection for Oklahoma
Choosing the right variety can extend your harvest. Some turnips mature faster and are more heat-tolerant than others.
- For Greens & Quick Roots: ‘Tokyo Cross’ or ‘Hakurei’ (a salad turnip) mature in about 35 days.
- Classic Purple Top: A reliable heirloom good for storage, maturing in 55-60 days.
- For Fall-Only Planting: Slower-maturing, larger varieties like ‘Purple Top White Globe’ excel in the long, cool fall season.
Step-by-Step Planting Guide
Follow these simple steps for planting success.
1. Prepare Your Soil
Turnips prefer loose, well-draining soil. Oklahoma’s heavy clay can be a challenge, so amending it is important.
- Work the soil to a depth of 12 inches.
- Mix in 2-3 inches of compost or well-rotted manure to improve texture and fertility.
- Aim for a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. A simple soil test can confirm this.
2. Sowing Seeds Correctly
Turnips are always grown from seed sown directly in the garden.
- Plant seeds ½ inch deep.
- Space seeds about 1 inch apart in rows that are 12 to 18 inches apart.
- After seedlings emerge and grow their first true leaves, thin them to stand 4 to 6 inches apart. Don’t skip thinning—crowded turnips won’t form good roots.
3. Watering and Care
Consistent moisture is the secret to non-bitter, tender turnips.
- Water deeply once or twice a week, providing about 1 inch of water total.
- Use a mulch layer (straw or shredded leaves) to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and keep soil temperatures even.
- If you didn’t amend soil well, a balanced fertilizer at planting can help. But often, compost provides enough nutrients.
Common Pests and Problems
Keep an eye out for a few common issues in our region.
- Flea Beetles: These tiny jumping insects pepper leaves with small holes. Use floating row covers to protect young plants.
- Aphids: They cluster on the undersides of leaves. A strong spray of water from the hose is often enough to dislodge them.
- Root Maggots: Can damage the taproot. Crop rotation is your best defense—don’t plant turnips where other brassicas (like cabbage or broccoli) grew the previous year.
Good garden sanitation and healthy soil are your first line of defense against most problems.
Harvesting and Storing Your Crop
You can start harvesting turnip greens when they are young and tender, about 4 inches tall. Just snip a few from each plant.
- For Roots: Harvest when roots are 2 to 3 inches in diameter for the best flavor. They can get larger but may become tough.
- The Fall Bonus: A light frost (or even a freeze) will sweeten the roots. You can leave them in the ground well into winter under a thick layer of mulch and harvest as needed.
- Storage: Remove the greens (store seperately), brush off dirt, and store roots in a cool, humid place like a refrigerator crisper or root cellar. They can last for months.
FAQs: Growing Turnips in Oklahoma
Can you plant turnips in the summer in Oklahoma?
It’s not recommended. Summer heat stresses turnips, causing poor root development, bitterness, and bolting (going to seed). Stick to spring and fall windows.
What is the latest you can plant turnips in Oklahoma?
For a fall crop, aim to get seeds in the ground by mid-September at the latest. This gives them enough time to mature before hard freezes halt growth. However, with protection, you can push it a little later for greens.
Do turnips come back every year?
No, turnips are an annual vegetable. They complete their life cycle—from seed to root harvest—in one growing season. You need to replant them each spring or fall.
Can I grow turnips in containers?
Absolutely. Choose a container at least 12 inches deep and wide. Use a quality potting mix, ensure good drainage, and water frequently, as pots dry out faster than garden soil. Select smaller, faster-maturing varieties for best results.
Why are my turnip roots long and skinny instead of round?
This usually indicates soil that is too compacted or rocky. Turnips need loose, deep soil to form plump roots. Amending with compost next time will help alot. Overcrowding can also cause misshapen roots.
With the right timing and simple care, turnips are one of the most rewarding crops you can grow in an Oklahoma garden. By following these best planting times for turnips, you’ll enjoy a harvest of crisp roots and nutritious greens with minimal fuss. Mark your calendar for late summer sowing—your fall garden will thank you for it.