Zone 3 · Root Vegetables Growing Guide

When to Plant Turnip
in Zone 3

One of the fastest root crops — baby turnips in 35 days. Both root and greens are edible. Cool-season crop that tolerates light frost.

Plant outdoors
Apr 25 – Jun 15, Aug 1 – Aug 20
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~May 15
Days to harvest
35–60 days
Difficulty
Easy
Plant now — Zone 3
Harvest window: May – Jul, Sep – Oct

Planting Calendar

In Zone 3, Turnip should be planted outdoors Apr 25 – Jun 15, Aug 1 – Aug 20, after the average last frost date of approximately May 15.

Direct sow early. Two short seasons possible.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade · 4–8 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
4–6 inches
Soil
Loose, well-draining
Days to maturity
35–60 days
Soil pH
5.5–7.0
plant tip · Zone 3

Direct sow early. Two short seasons possible.

Feeding Schedule

How often
once at planting
Feed type
balanced (10-10-10)
Key timing
at planting

Light feeder. Work a balanced fertilizer into the bed before sowing. No additional feeding needed.

Succession Planting

Sow every 3 weeks

Sow every 3 weeks from early spring and again from late summer. Small turnips are best — don't let them get too large between successions.

Companion Planting for Turnip

What you plant next to turnip makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Peas
  • Legumes
  • Mint
Keep away from
  • Fennel

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Common questions

In Zone 3, direct sow turnip outdoors Apr 25 – Jun 15, Aug 1 – Aug 20 after your last frost date of approximately May 15. Direct sow early. Two short seasons possible.
Zone 3 has an average last spring frost of approximately May 15 and a first fall frost around Sep 15. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for turnip include Peas, Legumes, Mint. Avoid planting near Fennel, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Turnip typically takes 35–60 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 3. Expected harvest window: May – Jul, Sep – Oct.

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Turnip in other zones
Crop Guides