Turnip

Brassica rapa rapa

biennial1×0.5 mzone 2–9light shade🍎 Edible

Profile

Family: Brassicaceae
Habit: biennial
Height: 1 m
Spread: 0.5 m
Growth: fast
Lifespan: 2 years
First yield: after 1 year
Hardiness: zone 2–9
Shade tolerance: light shade
Soil: Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay
Soil moisture: dry – very wet
pH: 4.8 – 8.5

nectar sourcepollen source

Flowering & harvest

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Flowering
Leaf harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible8 of 10

Medicinal2 of 10

Other uses3 of 10

Growing

Turnip prefers well-drained, nutrient-rich loam soil with a pH between 4.8 and 8.5. The plant needs full sun and evenly moist soil; avoid waterlogging. Sow directly outdoors in early spring or late summer. Regular feeding with a balanced NPK fertilizer promotes growth. The plant is frost-sensitive, so harvest before the first hard frost.

⚠️ Hazards

Toxicity: slightly toxic

This is no substitute for expert identification. When in doubt, do not eat it.

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