Growing turnips for fun and profit can be a great way to spend a sunny summer afternoon. While the turnip plant is a familiar and popular garden plant, it is sometimes difficult to grow due to their cold tolerance, short roots, and shallow roots system. Fortunately, there are several things that can be done to make growing turnips much easier. In this article, we will cover three of these options:
A soil-based compost is one of the best ways to ensure success with your growing turnips plant. Choose a good quality compost with high levels of moisture content and a slow-release feeder. Also, don’t forget to use non-toxic fertilizers and soil conditioners. To improve your soil, add one tablespoon of dry neem oil per 5-inch pot or mix in one cup of medium-grade sand. If you would like to use a fertilizer, follow the manufacturer’s directions, and do not add any herbicides, pesticides, or herbicide-like compounds to the soil.
You may also choose to start your growing turnip plants in small containers. Small plastic containers work great, especially if you plan to place them around your home. Plastic containers allow you to move the plants around as needed without fear of the leaves discoloring or losing their color.
In addition to using small containers, you may choose to grow your Turnip plants in standard, large containers. This will allow you to control the amount of light and water they receive each day. However, keep in mind that if you place these plants too close together, they may begin to grow too tall and too wide. It is best to place these on a grassy area, near a fence, or in a potting bed.
You can purchase seeds at your local nursery or grow shop. The number of seeds needed will depend on how much of a space you have available, so plan accordingly. Keep in mind, however, that most turnip greens sell for approximately one dollar per packet, so purchasing several packets of seeds will cost less than one packet of seeds from your local nursery.
Once you have chosen the proper container for your Turnip plants, it is time to make preparations for the growing season. Make sure to mulch the roots of your Turnip plants to help prevent weed growth. When it comes time to transplant your Turnip container, you should only do it once every six months or so. If you live in an area where you experience heavy rain during the spring months, plan to move your container at least once every three months.