How to Make Turnips Grow Good Roots
- 1). Check the pH balance and nutrient availability of your soil. Most universities perform soil tests if you give them a sample. You can also buy a home soil test kit and use it according to the directions. Add 1/2 lb. of lime to your soil for every 1,000 square feet if your pH is under 6 to 6.5.
- 2). Rake your soil well to remove all of the rocks and weeds. Work 3 to 4 inches of compost into the soil to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. Break up any large clumps of soil.
- 3). Broadcast 1/2 cup of urea fertilizer for every 100 square foot of garden space onto your soil before planting. Work the fertilizer into the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches deep.
- 4). Plant the turnips in the spring when the soil warms to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant the seeds 1/2 inch deep and space them 2 to 3 inches apart, with each row 12 to 24 inches apart.
- 5). Irrigate the turnips well while they grow. Add 1 inch of water to your soil a week so it can stay moist for good root development.