Latin Name: Brassica rapa
Alternative Names: 

Main Uses: Culinary

Days to Maturity: 50 days
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Certified Organic: USDA Certified Organic

Germination: 5 - 10 days at 21ºC.   
Indoors: in 3'' pots 4 weeks before planting out. Fertilize with a kelp-based fertilizer, such as Sea Magic™, from the first watering.
Outdoors: Direct sow when the soil has warmed to 21ºC (about 2 weeks after the last frost).  
Planting depth: 1''.   
Spacing: In a 2' diameter hill, place 4 - 5 seeds. Cover with soil. Space hills 3 - 4'. Thin to the 3 strongest seedlings when first true leaves appear.  
Planting out: Plant in well-drained fertile soil once seedlings are established,  2 weeks after the last frost.

Harvesting: Turnips are sweetest when harvested after two light touches of frost.

Growing in Containers: Can be grown in extra large pots or raised boxes.

Fertilizing (Containers): Add 25% quality compost to potting mix; fertilize weekly with a higher nitrogen organic plant food such as Ocean Fish.

Watering (Containers): Water evenly - very important!

Growing in Mixed Planters: Not well suited to mixed planters.

Fertilizing (Garden): Plant in a garden bed recently amended with quality compost. Feed weekly with a higher nitrogen organic fertilizer.

Watering (Garden): Water young plants regularly to establish, then water deeply as conditions require.

Garden Companions: 

• Zucchini gets along with Celery, Corn, Beans, and Radishes.
• Corn shares space well with zucchini and summer squash since it grows vertically and the squash grows along the ground. The squash plants also help shade the soil to reduce the amount of weeds that compete with the corn plants. Both corn and summer squash have the same moisture and soil fertility requirements, so they make excellent neighbours.
• Pole beans work well planted near zucchini and other summer squashes since they are heavy feeders. Beans can be trained up a trellis, and their roots fix nitrogen to enrich the soil.
• Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for pests such as flea beetles and aphids. Other beneficial companion plants such as basil tend to repel flies and mosquitoes.
• Planting oregano repels cucumber beetles. Tuck some radishes in among the rows as they help keep squash borers away from your zucchinis.
• Avoid planting sage and potatoes next to cucumbers and zucchini. They are not compatible.

Suitability for Indoors: Not suited for indoors.