Growing turnips in your garden : everything you need to know about

The turnip is a member of the sun-loving vegetable family! It is a very old root vegetable that we love to harvest in our organic gardens. Nevertheless it is the target of many pests and diseases. Focus on its culture!

How to successfully plant the turnip root vegetable in your garden?

This vegetable likes mild, temperate climates with a touch of humidity. If you want to have an optimal harvest, we recommend you to plant them in the sun. This root vegetable thrives in a sunny location. For a good planting, it is recommended to place it in a fresh and humus soil. There are two varieties of turnips, summer and winter. We recommend planting this delicious root vegetable between March and June for the summer species and from July to August for the winter one. Always remember to keep a distance of 20 to 40 cm. You should also thin them out as soon as they have 3 to 4 leaves. Another tip is to lead the seedlings with a tool such as a rake. Water your turnips regularly as they do not like to be dry!

What are the diseases and pests of the turnip root vegetable?

The flea beetle is one of the main pests of this vegetable. It pierces the leaves of this vegetable all over. It is important to take into account the different periods of the season because flea beetles multiply considerably in dry periods. We also find the slug and the green caterpillar which are very greedy of this vegetable, especially the young plants. Among the other pests, we can also mention the turnip fly, the opal silph and the sawfly which attack the roots of this one. Concerning diseases, mildew is responsible for the decline of your plantation. It turns the leaves yellow and covers them with white. The turnip weevil also causes a lot of damage because it deforms the vegetable. We have articles in permaculture that will allow you to know more about treatments to eradicate the different diseases, such as nettle manure.

Turnips in the garden

No matter what fruits or vegetables you plant in your vegetable garden, from the moment you decide to set up a vegetable garden in permaculture, there are rules to respect. Forget from now on the insecticides and other toxic products towards the ecosystem! On the other hand, you can set up ecological solutions in your garden. For example, chickens can get rid of a lot of pests. You can also use diatomaceous earth which is known for its beneficial properties in permaculture. Hedgehogs can limit the invasion of all kinds of insects. In any case, on our site, you can find a lot of information that will help you to cultivate your turnip plantation in your garden.