How to Plant Purple Top Turnips
- 1). Plant the seeds in early spring, as soon as the ground thaws for a summer harvest and plant them in late summer for a fall harvest. Sow the seeds 1/2 inch below the surface of the soil, spaced 1/2 inch apart. Space rows 18 inches apart.
- 2). Water the soil daily for the first week. Water the soil so it is moist but not soaked.
- 3). Thin the turnips when the plants reach 4 inches tall, unless you are growing them for the greens only. Space the plants 2 to 4 inches apart.
- 4). Weed the turnips twice a week, as weeds easily strangle young turnip roots.
- 5). Harvest the greens when they are large enough to pick. Leave a few leaves on each plant to encourage continued growth.
- 6). Harvest roots when they are 2 to 3 inches around. If the roots get too old and large, they taste hard and woody.
