Turnip Plant Care

Turnip (Brassica rapa) belongs to the Brassicaceae family within the Brassica genus. Turnip is native to Europe, Russia and Asia. Turnip is also known as Bok Choy, Napa Cabbage, Ternip.

Turnip displays a biennial, herbaceous growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Turnip produces small, four-petaled flowers in white, yellow, or purple.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Brassica rapa requires watering every 3–7 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.

Turnip thrives in full sun.

Brassica rapa grows best at temperatures of 50–85°F. Turnip prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining and fertile soil mix. Good drainage is essential for Turnip to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Turnip every month during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.

Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Repot annually in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.

Turnip can be propagated through propagate through seeds or cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to rapeseed plant care, which shares the same genus.

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Turnip is susceptible to cabbage worms, aphids, flea beetles. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Turnip grows outdoors in USDA Zone 4b – 12b. It survives winters down to planting zone 4b. Turnip is native to Europe, Russia and Asia.