How to Grow Turnips and Rutabagas: Turnip Plant Timing, Spacing and Storage

Sow rutabagas about 100 days before your first fall frost and turnips 3 to 4 weeks later, 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep; thin, water evenly, and store rutabagas cold and humid for months.

Sources: Illinois Extension, Clemson Cooperative Extension, University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Extension and 2 more. See the sources we used. How we source our guides

Updated

Painted purple-top turnips tied with twine beside a larger yellow and purple rutabaga with trimmed leaf stalks
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To grow turnips and rutabagas, sow rutabagas about 100 days before your first fall frost and turnips 3 to 4 weeks later, sowing just 1/4 to 1/2 inch; thin turnips to 2 to 6 inches and rutabagas to 6 to 8. That count-back is Illinois Extension's rule, and the fall crop is the one most gardeners want. Both are cool-weather root crops in the cabbage family, the brassicas, and both want an evenly watered bed. Turnips are ready in about 40 to 50 days from seed, rutabagas about 4 weeks later. Pull turnips at about 2 to 3 inches across; rutabagas can wait in the ground until after a frost and store for months in a cold, humid place.

Turnips and rutabagas at a glance
Fall sowing Rutabagas about 100 days before your first fall frost, turnips 3 to 4 weeks after them (Illinois)
Sowing depth 1/4 to 1/2 inch (Clemson, Johnny's); 1/2 inch (Illinois)
Spacing Turnips 3 to 6 inches (Minnesota) or 2 to 4 (Illinois); rutabagas 8 inches (Minnesota) or 6 (Illinois)
Emergence About ten days (Minnesota)
Water 1 inch a week (Minnesota)
Soil pH 6.0 to 6.5 (Clemson); 6.0 to 7.5 (Johnny's)
Days to maturity Turnips about 40 to 50 days, small ones about 30 (Johnny's); rutabagas 4 weeks longer than turnips (Illinois)
Frost tolerance Turnips tolerate moderate frost (Johnny's); both are hardy to fall frosts (Illinois)

When to plant turnips and rutabagas

Both crops can go in twice a year. A spring sowing goes in as early as the soil can be worked; Illinois Extension says spring turnips should be planted "as early in the spring as possible," and University of Minnesota Extension starts its spring crop there on April 15. The fall sowing is the bigger one: Illinois says fall roots usually grow bigger and better than spring ones, and fall roots are the ones that keep.

For fall, count backward from your average first fall frost. Illinois puts rutabagas at about 100 days before that date and fall turnips 3 to 4 weeks later. The table turns that rule into calendar dates for four NOAA weather stations from their 1991-2020 normal dates for the first and last 32 F freeze. Find the station whose dates sit closest to your own, or look up your nearest station and do the same arithmetic.

Fall sowing dates by station (Illinois Extension rule: rutabagas roughly 100 days ahead of the first fall frost, turnips 3 to 4 weeks after them)
Station (NOAA 1991-2020 normals) Last spring frost First fall frost Sow rutabagas Sow fall turnips
Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, MN Apr 23 Oct 18 Jul 10 Jul 31 to Aug 7
Chicago O'Hare airport, IL Apr 16 Oct 28 Jul 20 Aug 10 to Aug 17
Washington Reagan airport, VA Mar 24 Nov 18 Aug 10 Aug 31 to Sep 7
Dallas-Fort Worth airport, TX Mar 8 Nov 24 Aug 16 Sep 6 to Sep 13

Each date is a NOAA 1991-2020 normal at 50 percent probability for a 32 F freeze; about half of years bring the fall freeze before the date shown. Sowing columns are our arithmetic on the Illinois rule.

Two sources give different fall dates for the north. University of Minnesota Extension tells Minnesota gardeners to sow rutabagas from late May to early June and fall turnips on August 1. The Illinois count-back puts the Minneapolis rutabaga date near July 10, more than a month later, and lands the turnip window right around Minnesota's August 1. In the South the season runs later still: Clemson Extension's fall window for turnips on the South Carolina Coastal Plain is August 1 to September 30.

Turnips vs rutabagas: what changes

They look alike and grow alike, but they are different species. Turnips are Brassica rapa, which also includes bok choy and Chinese cabbage, with white flesh and a sharper flavor. Rutabagas are Brassica napus, larger, denser and usually yellow-fleshed. Illinois Extension describes rutabagas as a cross between cabbage and turnip. For the gardener, the practical difference is time and room: rutabagas need about 4 weeks longer to mature and a wider final spacing, so they are grown almost entirely as a fall crop.

What four sources say about turnips and rutabagas
Illinois Extension Clemson Extension U. of Minnesota Extension Johnny's Selected Seeds
Seed depth 1/2 in 1/4 to 1/2 in Not stated 1/4 to 1/2 in
Row spacing 12 to 24 in 14 to 18 in 18 to 30 in 12 to 18 in
Turnip spacing Thin to 2 to 4 in 2 to 3 in (both crops) Thin to 3 to 6 in Sow 1 in apart (small) or 2 in (larger)
Rutabaga spacing Thin to 6 in 2 to 3 in (both crops) Thin to 8 in Not covered
Turnip time to harvest About two months Not stated Not stated About 40 to 50 days; small ones about 30
Rutabaga timing 4 weeks longer than turnips; sow about 100 days before first frost SC Piedmont fall: Jul 15 to Sep 30 Sow late May to early June (MN) Not covered
Turnip harvest size 2 to 3 in across 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 in Normally about 2 to 3 in wide Smoothest when small
Storage Refrigerator; straw mulch in the ground Plastic bags, refrigerator or cold root cellar Rutabagas 32 to 40 F, 95% RH, up to five months Topped fall turnips 32 to 40 F, 90 to 95% RH, 4 to 6 months

Where the sources disagree, the gap is mostly about how you lay out the bed. Row spacing runs from 12 to 30 inches across the four sources because wide rows suit a tilled garden walked between rows, while narrow ones suit a raised bed. Seed depth is consistent: no source asks for more than 1/2 inch.

Fall sowing: which crop to sow, counted back from the first frost

If you have missed the rutabaga window, you can still sow turnips. Johnny's Selected Seeds says turnips pulled young, at radish size, take about 30 days, so even a late sowing can give a small harvest before the ground freezes. Use the flow below to choose what to sow today.

What to sow for fall What to sow for fall. Question 1: Do you want roots that store into winter? Yes: go to question 2. No: go to question 3. Question 2: Is your first fall frost at least 100 days away? Yes: Sow rutabagas now. No: Sow storage turnips. Question 3: Are leaves the main harvest? Yes: Sow a greens turnip. No: Sow small turnips every 10 days. QUICK DECISION What to sow for fall Q1 Do you want roots that store into winter? Q2 Is your first fall frost at least 100 days away? Yes A Sow rutabagas now About 100 days before the first fall frost Yes B Sow storage turnips 3 to 4 weeks after the rutabaga date No Q3 Are leaves the main harvest? No C Sow a greens turnip Cut the tops at 4 to 6 inches Yes D Sow small turnips every 10 days Young roots in about 30 days No

Illinois Extension also points out that fall turnips can follow an early crop: scatter the seed where early potatoes, cabbage, beets or peas came out, or in the gaps between sweet corn rows. That makes turnips a natural second crop for a bed that would otherwise sit empty from midsummer on.

Sowing, thinning and watering

Turnip and rutabaga seed is tiny, so shallow sowing matters more than precise spacing. Clemson Extension's depth is 1/4 to 1/2 inch, and Illinois gives 1/2 inch. You can sow in rows or broadcast the seed over a wide bed and rake it in lightly. Clemson warns that a hard, crusted surface keeps the tender seedlings from breaking through, so loosen the soil first and water lightly and often until they are up. Minnesota Extension says seedlings should appear after about ten days.

Thinning is where most of the size comes from. Once true leaves show, thin turnips to 3 to 6 inches apart; closer gives smaller roots, wider gives bigger ones (University of Minnesota). Illinois thins turnips a little closer, to 2 to 4 inches, once they reach four inches tall. Rutabagas need more room: six inches in Illinois, eight inches in Minnesota. The thinnings are big enough to cook as greens, so nothing goes to waste.

Water steadily. Minnesota Extension calls for one inch of water per week from rain or irrigation and warns that drought stress can make the roots bitter or woody. Soak the soil when you water; on sandy soil, water more than once a week. The roots grow close to the surface, so pull or hoe weeds shallowly. A three to four inch layer of herbicide-free grass clippings or weed-free straw can help cut down on weeding.

Plan the bed around last year's crops too. Clemson advises a spot where no cabbage-family crop has grown for the past three years; Minnesota asks for four. That family includes cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, collards, mustard and the turnips and rutabagas themselves. A soil test before planting tells you how much lime and fertilizer the bed needs; Clemson aims for a pH between 6.0 and 6.5 and notes that too much nitrogen can reduce root formation.

Turnip greens

Turnip tops are a crop in their own right. Some turnips are grown only for leaves and never form a swollen root; Clemson lists Alamo and Topper as greens types, and Illinois names Shogoin. Others, such as Purple Top White Globe, give both roots and greens. To grow for greens, Illinois says to cut the tops once they reach 4 to 6 inches; as long as the growing point is left, the plant keeps regrowing. Sowing again every 10 days keeps fresh leaves and young roots coming.

There is a trade-off. Clemson notes that continual leaf harvest adversely affects root development, so if you want roots from the same plants, take only a few leaves at a time. When you pull turnips for roots, cut the greens off, wash them and store them separately; Minnesota gives both roots and tops a week or two in the refrigerator.

Harvest and storing roots through winter

Pull spring turnips as soon as they are a usable size. Minnesota Extension says that is normally about 2 to 3 inches across, and Illinois agrees; Clemson's guide is the size of a tennis ball, 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 inches. Their shoulders usually sit above the soil, so you can see how big they are. Bigger is not better: past that size turnips are more likely to become bitter, woody or fibrous. Rutabagas are harvested larger, at 3 to 5 inches in diameter per Illinois, or softball size per Clemson.

Fall roots handle cold well. Illinois says both crops take fall frosts and that cool weather may make them sweeter, and Minnesota notes that plenty of gardeners hold off digging rutabagas until a hard frost has hit them. A heavy straw mulch extends the harvest into early winter (Illinois). Do not push it too far, though: Clemson says to harvest ahead of a hard freeze rather than leave roots in frozen ground.

For storage, the two crops part ways. Turnips lose moisture fast and keep for a week or two in the refrigerator, per Minnesota, though Johnny's Selected Seeds says fall-harvested Purple Top White Globe roots, topped at harvest, can keep 4 to 6 months at 32 to 40 F and 90 to 95 percent relative humidity. Rutabagas are the real keepers: Minnesota gives root-cellar conditions of 32 to 40 F and 95 percent relative humidity and up to five months of storage, and warns that a wet growing season is likely to shorten that. Cut off the leaves and the thin tail of taproot, brush off the soil without cutting the skin, and keep them cold and humid. A refrigerator is usually too dry, and roots kept there can start to sprout within a few weeks.

The wax on store-bought rutabagas keeps them from shriveling on the shelf. Minnesota says home storage does not call for it; Illinois mentions dipping roots in warm, not hot, wax to slow moisture loss. Either way, cold and humidity matter more.

Root maggots and flea beetles

Two pests do most of the damage. Flea beetles pepper the leaves with tiny round holes and hit seedlings hardest; Minnesota Extension says they can destroy a young crop. Root maggots tunnel through the roots. Illinois notes that maggots are most likely where radishes, turnips or rutabagas grew the year before, which is one more reason to rotate.

The simplest defense is a physical one. Johnny's Selected Seeds says floating row covers laid over the bed on the day you sow keep both flea beetles and root maggots off turnips. Minnesota's flea beetle guidance agrees on screening seedlings, with two cautions: covers only help if the crop moves to a new bed each year, and beetles can get under a cover whenever it is lifted. Expect the cover to make weeding harder, too. Minnesota also says to remove covers before flowering so pollinators can reach the plants, but turnips and rutabagas are harvested for roots and leaves before they flower.

What to plant with turnips

Extension sources name two kinds of neighbor. Oregon State Extension lists turnips and rutabagas in the cabbage family and pairs that family with legumes such as edamame and fava, whose decaying roots can add nitrogen. Minnesota Extension says some of the spicier brassicas are well documented as trap crops for flea beetles, and that mustard and arugula can both be effective ones, typically sown 7 to 14 days ahead. More pairs: what to plant with turnips.

Turnip and rutabaga seeds and supplies

Three seed types cover most gardens. Purple Top White Globe is the standard root-and-greens turnip, listed for both uses by Clemson Extension. A greens-only turnip such as Alamo, Topper or Shogoin is the one to sow if leaves are what you want. For rutabagas, Clemson lists American Purple Top and Laurentian.

For gear, row cover or insect netting is the item the sources keep coming back to, and a sturdy harvest basket helps when you dig a fall crop all at once.

What you'll need for turnips and rutabagas

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  • Survival Garden Seeds Purple Top Turnip Seeds

    Survival Garden Seeds Purple Top Turnip Seeds

    The standard root-and-greens turnip (Clemson lists it for both uses).

    Check price on Amazon
  • The Seed Plant Shogoin Turnip Seeds

    The Seed Plant Shogoin Turnip Seeds

    Grown for leaves; no swollen root (Clemson, Illinois).

    Check price on Amazon
  • Sow Right Seeds American Purple Top Rutabaga Seed

    Sow Right Seeds American Purple Top Rutabaga Seed

    The rutabagas Clemson lists.

    Check price on Amazon
  • Agribon AG-19 Floating Row Cover, 10 x 50 ft

    Agribon AG-19 Floating Row Cover, 10 x 50 ft

    Row cover laid on the day you sow keeps flea beetles and root maggots off.

    Check price on Amazon
  • Fiskars Garden Harvest Basket with Tool Caddy

    Fiskars Garden Harvest Basket with Tool Caddy

    A sturdy basket for digging a fall crop all at once.

    Check price on Amazon

Sources we used

All the turnip and rutabaga numbers above come from the extension and seed pages below, read on October 29, 2026. When two of them differ, both figures are on the page.

Frequently asked questions

When should I plant turnips?

Plant turnips as early in spring as possible and again from late summer for a fall crop. Illinois Extension times the fall sowing 3 to 4 weeks after the rutabaga date, which is about 100 days before your first fall frost. Minnesota Extension sows spring turnips from April 15 and fall turnips on August 1.

How do you plant turnips?

Sow turnip seed shallow, 1/4 to 1/2 inch by Clemson Extension's and Johnny's Selected Seeds' figure, in rows or broadcast over a bed and raked in lightly. Thin turnips to 3 to 6 inches once true leaves show, per Minnesota Extension, or 2 to 4 inches per Illinois. Rutabagas need 6 to 8 inches.

How long do turnips take to grow?

Full-size turnips take about 40 to 50 days from seed, according to Johnny's Selected Seeds, and young radish-size roots about 30 days. Illinois Extension says turnips mature in about two months. Rutabagas are slower: Illinois says they need 4 weeks longer than turnips, which is why it steers them to a fall sowing.

When do you harvest turnips?

Harvest turnips at the size Minnesota and Illinois Extension both give, normally about 2 to 3 inches across; Clemson Extension says the size of a tennis ball. The shoulders usually sit above the soil, so you can judge them by eye. Larger roots are more likely to become bitter, woody or fibrous, Minnesota warns. Illinois harvests rutabagas larger, at 3 to 5 inches.

Are turnips and rutabagas the same thing?

No, they are two different species. Minnesota Extension says turnips are Brassica rapa, the species of bok choy and Chinese cabbage, while rutabagas are Brassica napus and usually harder and denser. Illinois Extension describes rutabagas as a cross between cabbage and turnip that takes 4 weeks longer to mature, and Clemson says they are slightly larger and sweeter.

Can you eat turnip greens?

Yes, turnip greens are a crop in their own right. Illinois Extension says to cut the tops when they reach 4 to 6 inches tall, and they regrow as long as the growing points are left. Clemson Extension warns that continual leaf harvest hurts root development, so pick lightly if you also want roots from the same plants.

How do you store rutabagas over winter?

Store rutabagas cold and humid, as in a root cellar. Minnesota Extension gives 32 to 40 F and 95 percent relative humidity, with storage of up to five months, less after a wet season. Trim the tops and thin taproot first. A refrigerator is too dry for long storage, and roots kept there may sprout after a few weeks.

What can I plant with turnips?

Plant legumes such as edamame or fava near turnips. Oregon State Extension pairs the cabbage family, which it says includes turnips and rutabagas, with legumes because their decaying roots can release nitrogen over time. Minnesota Extension says some of the spicier brassicas are well documented as trap crops for flea beetles, and that mustard and arugula can both be effective ones. Illinois also broadcasts fall turnips where early potatoes, cabbage, beets or peas came out.