9 Tips for Growing and Harvesting the Tastiest Turnip Greens

Are you looking for cool-weather greens that you can grow in fall, besides the usual spinach, lettuce, and kale? Enter turnip greens, the above-ground foliage portion of turnip plants. In addition to the root, you can enjoy these nutritious, peppery leaves. The process is a bit different, but gardening enthusiast Emily Estep has 9 tips for growing and harvesting the best turnip greens to get you started.

A close up shot of a healthy, vibrant green leaves of turnip greens

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Turnips are cool-weather crops that you can start in either spring or fall. They’re typically grown for their delicious, hearty roots, akin to carrots or beets. These brassicas also produce nutritious leafy greens above the soil level that you can harvest.

These turnip greens are packed with nutrients, including lots of vitamins A, K, and C. They have a peppery, earthy flavor that’s pretty similar to that of the roots. You can eat them raw in salads, saute them as a side dish, or add them to other cooked meals. They’re super versatile.

Whether you’ve grown turnips for the roots before or have never attempted to grow this vegetable, you may be wondering how to best cultivate it for the greens. The process isn’t too different from your regular root vegetable procedure, but there are a few key changes along the way.

Should you have your eyes more on the foliage than the roots, seed selection, fertilizer application, and pest protection are just a few categories in which you’d cultivate these brassicas differently. Read on to discover helpful tips for growing and harvesting tasty turnip greens.

Turnip White Lady

Turnip White Lady

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Turnip White Lady Seeds

Purple Top White Turnip

Purple Top White Globe Turnip Seeds

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Purple Top White Turnip Seeds

Superfoods Baby Greens

Superfoods Baby Greens Seeds

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Superfoods Baby Greens Seeds

Select the Right Seeds

A close up shot of a person's hand holding seeds of a root vegetable plant that are piled on top of each other.
Choose the right variety according to your needs and preferences.

When growing turnip greens, selecting optimal varieties to start with goes a long way. Turnips are traditionally grown for their nutrient-rich roots, just like carrots and beets, so many cultivars have been bred over time with the roots in mind, not the greens.

Some cultivars produce excellent roots but lackluster greens, which isn’t what you’re looking for. Instead, browse seed catalogs for those that are grown primarily for their greens or those that mention the high quality of the greens.

‘White Lady’ turnips are known for their tasty leaves, which are dark green in color and smooth in texture. They’re appreciated both raw in salads and when cooked. Plus, the white roots form mild, sweet baby turnips that you can harvest in just 30 days.

Another great option is ‘Purple Top White Globe,’ a variety that has particularly large foliage. The harvestable leaves are usually somewhere between one and two feet tall and three to five inches in diameter. Depending on how many you’re growing, these sizable greens can add up to a serious harvest.

Any time you’re choosing seeds, it’s important to consider local conditions and your available time window. Turnips are hardy crops, and they’ll survive a freeze or two. However, unless you’re in a mild zone, they probably won’t survive the consistently frozen temperatures that winter brings.

Determine when your area is most likely to experience consistent, freezing weather. When selecting seeds to start in fall, choose varieties that will grow in time for you to harvest before it gets too cold.

Amend the Soil

A focused shot of a person's hand holding dark, moist and nutrient-rich soil in a white container.
These root crops thrive in nutrient-rich and well-draining soil.

Provide additives to the soil as necessary for optimal growth. Turnips aren’t super picky about soil pH or even soil composition. What really matters is that the soil drains fast and easily. These root crops would be better off in nutrient-poor, sandy soil than in nutrient-rich clay that retains too much water.

Another potential issue is rocks in the soil. Even though you’re growing your turnips for their greens and are not as focused on the roots, why not enjoy the root veggies, too? With too many rocks or just a few large rocks, the roots may not be able to form their signature spherical shape.

Before starting seeds, consider what amendments you need. If you have compacted clay soil with lots of rocks, you’ll want to loosen it up, mix in compost, and remove the rocks. Mixing in pretty much any organic soil amendment will help.

Even if your soil already has a great texture and drains without issue, now is a good time to add compost, granular fertilizer, or other amendments that will add nutrients. A good balance of nutrients will lead to the best greens.

You may discover that your soil really does not suit turnips or that amending it is more work than you hoped. If so, you can grow these veggies in raised beds or containers.

This way, you’ll have complete control over the composition from the beginning instead of trying to fix the existing soil. Choose a loamy, well-draining potting mix. If growing in a pot or similar container, make sure the vessel has drainage holes.

Choose the Best Spot

A shot of rows of root-crops in well exposed in a bright sunlit area outdoors.
These vegetables perform best under full sun.

Turnips perform best in a spot that gets full sun exposure. This means at least six hours of direct sunlight, per day, but eight or more hours would be better. If you have to choose a sub-par spot with shade, select a spot with afternoon shade.

Growers in hotter zones can get by with a little less sun, too. In fact, it may benefit you to grow turnips in a location that is safe from midday sun. For the most part, more sun will result in bigger, healthier leaves, which is what you’re aiming for.

Soil is also a serious consideration when deciding where to plant these root vegetables when cultivating them for their foliage. As discussed, well-draining soil that is free of rocks or major barriers really is key to turnip growth, even though you aren’t as concerned with the roots.

While there’s a lot you can do to amend soil, the best scenario is simply finding a spot in your yard or garden where the soil is already fitting for these crops. You may discover that a corner of your yard already has pretty well-draining soil.

Turnips don’t perform well when competing against a lot of weeds. While we can’t fully eliminate weeds, we all know which areas of our gardens and lawns struggle with them the most. If you have a garden bed that’s currently overrun with weeds, avoid this location.

Finally, you’ll want to pick a growing location that isn’t too far out of reach. Consistent moisture is important for big, bountiful leaves, so you’ll want to grow this crop within convenient reach of your hose or a drip tape system.

Sow At the Right Time

A close up shot of a person's hand getting ready to sow seeds of a root vegetable with a healthy looking soil in the background.
The best time to sow them is during spring and fall.

Turnips are cool-weather crops, so if you want to grow the most perfect greens possible, timing is key. On the one hand, this cool-weather status makes things easy because you don’t have to worry as much about frost. On the other hand, it can be a challenge because it’s not as simple as just growing these crops all summer long, like you would for tomatoes. 

For most gardeners, there are two optimal time periods: spring and fall. If you intend to sow seeds for a spring crop, you should start seeds up to a month before the last frost. This will give them plenty of time to grow before it gets too hot. They will not grow properly in summer.

Keep in mind that turnip seeds germinate easily when the soil is above 60°F (16°C). They may struggle to germinate in the cold, early spring weather, though they will germinate slowly as long as the soil is 40°F (4°C).

Sowing seeds for a fall crop is often easier. You shouldn’t have any trouble starting seeds in late August or October when the soil is still warm. You’ll have a lengthy fall growing season before truly cold temperatures set in, inhibiting growth and eventually killing the crops.

Even better, pest problems are less of a concern when growing in the fall, while they’re more rampant in spring. You will have less trouble protecting your greens from pests in autumn.

Nonetheless, you can absolutely grow this root vegetable in spring or fall. Sow a month before the last frost in spring—or as early as you can get the seeds to germinate—and sow in August or October in fall to get in a full growing season.

Provide Protection 

Row covers made of white fabric draped over semi-circular hoops, protecting young plants, with stones placed at the edges to secure the material, creating a smooth, sheltered environment.
The easiest method of preventing pest infestations is to use row covers, ensuring physical exclusion.

If you were growing turnips exclusively for their roots, you might not be too concerned about bugs and critters eating the foliage. However, since you’re trying to grow the tastiest, best-looking turnip greens possible, reducing leaf pests is essential.

Imagine investing tons of time and energy into this crop, only to leave for a weekend and come back to find them grazed to the soil level by local deer. Not only is the foliage in danger of herbivory from mammals, but all sorts of insects can make little (or big) holes in the leaves. Flea beetles can be particularly problematic.

Without resorting to pesticides and insecticides, there are plenty of ways that you can manually protect your greens. First off, assuming you’ve been gardening in the same spot for a few years, consider which animals pose the biggest threat.

If you’ve been losing the war against deer season after season, perhaps a full-size fence is in order. If you live in a residential area where deer aren’t a problem—but gophers wreak havoc—then a specialty barrier that goes underground may be in order.

You may be fortunate enough to have minimal insects with deer, gophers, rabbits, etc., but bugs are often a problem regardless. Thin netting, horticultural mesh, and other similar products can protect foliage from bugs, especially when the plants are young.

Creating a hoop-like tunnel that you can easily lift off the garden is a fast and simple way to keep predators out, both big and small. If you’re growing in a raised bed, this is even easier. You can find pre-made hoops that fit the same dimensions as your raised bed, protecting all the plants inside.

Water Consistently

A close up shot of young vegetables being watered via flowing water from a faucet in an area outdoors
The vegetable will need consistent watering for proper growth.

Both turnip roots and greens need consistent access to water for proper growth. These crops need about one inch of water per week. When watering, consider how much precipitation there has been. Consider putting a rain gauge in your garden to keep track.

If you allow turnips to dry out, you may end up with diminished greens. You do not want to let the foliage wilt. This is why it’s so important to find the right balance with soil. These crops absolutely need well-draining soil, but the soils need to retain a little bit of moisture and can’t be too sandy.

If your soil really leans on the sandy side and you’re in a warmer zone, consider watering more than one inch per week. Regardless of your climate, drip tape irrigation is an excellent choice for turnips and any crop that likes really consistent moisture.

With drip tape and a timer, you can set up an automatic system that provides water to your turnips and other plants in a consistent volume every day. You won’t have to manually go outside and water, which is particularly helpful when you want to go out of town.

Plus, watering the leaves from above with a hose can be detrimental to the foliage structure over time, especially in a humid environment. Overhead watering may encourage the spread of fungal and bacterial pathogens that breed in moisture.

Of course, the amount of water these plants will need will vary depending on the weather. Beyond the rule of thumb of one inch of water per week, water again whenever the soil is dry. You don’t want it to dry out completely for long.

Apply Fertilizer

A focused shot of granular fertilizer on the ground beside rot vegetables with a person blurred out in the background in a bright sunlit area.
Top dressing about once a month can help keep your plants nourished.

Fertilizer makes a significant difference for most crops, and turnips are no exception, especially when you’re focusing on the foliage. To start with, you should sow seeds in soil that is already nutrient-rich, whether you’ve added compost or some other nutrient-dense soil amendment.

As the season goes along, take care to keep your garden well-fertilized. Top dressing your crops with granular, natural fertilizer about once a month should keep all your plants fed with their basic nutrients while also maintaining a healthy soil microbiome.

For turnip greens specifically, you may want to apply a fertilizer that is high nitrogen. This macronutrient is primarily responsible for foliage. Wait until your greens are a few inches tall, and then add nitrogen fertilizer. Bat guano and blood meal are classic natural fertilizers that will get the job done. You can buy plenty of commercial blends with a similar profile, too.

However, tempting as it might be, don’t overdo it with fertilizer. Apply based on the directions listed on the product at the time intervals indicated on the product. If you apply too much, you can seriously weaken the plant, making it more susceptible to disease or burning away the roots.

Harvest At the Right Time

A close up shot of a person wearing dirty garden gloves freshly harvesting turnips and placing the soil-covered root veggies in the garden.
You can harvest the vegetables at any size.

You can harvest turnip greens at basically any size, whether you harvest them at their “baby” size or as fully developed leaves. Like kale, spinach, and other similar greens, you can practice the cut-and-come-again method, which is when you harvest only a few leaves from the outer edge of the plant and allow the rest to keep growing.

However, timing is once again key. If you’ve planted your turnips on time and the weather allows for a long growing season, then you have plenty of time to cut and come again, many times, making fresh salads all spring or fall.

But if you planted a little bit too late, or if the weather otherwise cut your season short, it may be best to harvest the leaves all at once. You don’t want to risk leaving them exposed to the heat or the cold for too long.

Put harvested turnip greens in a plastic bag and in your crisper drawer. They will last for a couple of weeks. You can extend their lifespan by snipping the bottoms of the stems off every few days. You can also freeze the leaves for up to six months.

Look Out for Pests and Disease

A focused shot of a a colony of an aphid infestation on the backside of a leaf of a vegetable in a well lit area.
Neem oil is a non-toxic option of preventing pest infestations, such as aphids.

Finally, watch out for pests that carry bacterial and fungal diseases, as well as the pests that chew little holes in the foliage. You should also keep an eye out for diseases. If you have a long season of growing turnip greens ahead of you, catching issues early can make a significant difference.

If you’re employing the cut-and-come-again method of harvesting, then this is a perfect time to give your plants a good once-over. When you go out to harvest, look closely at the leaves, monitor for stunted growth, and make note of any blemishes.

Pests are more of a concern for turnips than diseases, but sometimes, the former brings the latter with them. Notable pests include beet armyworms, cabbage aphids, cabbage maggots, flea beetles, harlequin bugs, and imported cabbage worms, among others.

Treating infestations once they’re already there is tough because you don’t want to spray the greens with anything you’re unwilling to eat. Neem oil is a non-toxic option, but you’ll need to wash the leaves thoroughly before eating. 

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