When to plant Turnip in Temperate Australia
Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.
Turnips are sown direct from September right through to May in temperate Australia, pausing only for the three coldest months. Drop seed 10 mm deep, thin seedlings to 7–15 cm in rows 20–40 cm apart, and they get moving fast — germination in 6–12 days and roots ready in as little as 50 days, up to 90 for larger types. Speed is the whole point of this crop: a turnip grown quickly in cool weather with steady moisture is crisp and mildly sweet, while a slow, stressed one turns woody. Sow small amounts often rather than one big row.
Sowing calendar — temperate zone
Green months are your sowing window: September to May.
Growing notes
Hardy through any temperate frost, turnips slot into both shoulders of the season. Spring sowings from September race away in warming soil but need to beat the summer heat — high temperatures make roots harsh and push plants to bolt. Autumn sowings from February to May are the more forgiving end of the window: roots mature into cool weather, flavour is at its best, and light frosts from May improve rather than damage them. Mid-summer sowings in December and January are possible but need afternoon shade and unfailing water.
Position and soil are undemanding — full sun to light shade in reasonable, free-draining ground, without fresh manure. What turnips will not tolerate is a stop-start life. Any check from drought, crowding or hunger shows up directly in the root as woodiness, hollow centres or hot, bitter flesh.
- Thin ruthlessly to the full 7–15 cm; crowded turnips make leaves, not roots
- Water little and often to keep growth continuous
- Harvest young — golf-ball to tennis-ball size beats anything bigger
- Watch seedlings for flea beetle pinholes in warm weather
Pull roots as you need them rather than storing, and don't waste the tops: young turnip greens cook like any other leafy brassica.
Turnip at a glance
| Sowing depth | 10 mm |
|---|---|
| Plant spacing | 7-15 cm |
| Row spacing | 20-40 cm |
| Germination | 6-12 days |
| Days to maturity | 50-90 days |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy |
| Method | Sow Direct |
Common questions
- How long do turnips take to grow?
- Between 50 and 90 days from sowing, with germination in 6–12 days. Small, quick varieties harvested at golf-ball size are at the fast end of that range.
- Can you grow turnips over summer in Australia?
- It is the hardest time to do it. Heat makes roots bitter and triggers bolting, so December and January sowings need some shade and constant moisture — spring and autumn sowings are far more reliable.
- Why are my turnips all leaves and no root?
- Overcrowding is the usual cause, sometimes combined with too much nitrogen. Thin seedlings to 7–15 cm apart early so each plant has room to swell a root.
- Do turnips survive frost?
- Yes, they are fully hardy in temperate Australia, and autumn-sown roots that mature through light frosts develop the sweetest flavour.
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