Can turnips grow in containers?
Written by
Michael Sullivan
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Growing turnips in containers allows for flexibility for urban gardeners and limited spaces. Keeping turnips in containers can lessen pest breeding and can allow you to control the growing soil quality. Use pots that are 12-18 inches deep for better root sizing. Add additional holes for drainage and reduce backwatering a truckload of water in the bottom of the container to keep it from rotting.
Pot Selection
- Depth: 12+ inches for root development
- Material: Fabric pots improve airflow; plastic retains moisture
- Drainage: 3-5 holes per pot to prevent soggy soil
Soil and Planting
- Mix: 60% potting soil + 40% compost
- Spacing: Sow seeds 3 inches apart; thin to 4-6 inches
- Fertilizer: Low-nitrogen (5-10-10) every 3 weeks
Containers can help you avoid problematic insect pest issues like root maggots. Use neem oil spray for control of flea beetles. Try to locate your pots in full sun (6+ hours), but move your pots to a shaded location during hot weather. Move your pots every week so that the growth is even between plants; lopsided plants may be indicative of uneven light exposure.
For harvest, pull turnips at 2-3 inches diameter, loosening the soil gently before pulling. Root crops in containers tend to reach maturity faster than those planted in the ground. The condition for storing turnips is to leave them unwashed in perforated bags in the refrigerator. When growing leafy greens in the same soil, you can reuse the soil but should replace it annually to prevent disease from building up in the soil.
Read the full article: How to Grow Turnips: A Step-by-Step Planting Guide
