5 Favorite Turnip Companion Plants
Turnip Companion Plants
Turnips can benefit greatly from companion planting. Growing one or more type of vegetable near your turnip plants is a smart, strategic approach to food gardening and will help to produce better results.
Turnips are fast growing root vegetables, and there are varieties that can grow successfully in most any plant zone. Turnips can be grown in the ground as well as in larger containers, making this food a favorite to grow even among new food gardeners.
Turnips themselves grow under the soil’s surface, with leafy greens growing to a height of around 12-18″ tall, depending on the variety. While most gardeners grow turnips for the turnips… the leafy greens are also super nutritious and are great in salads and soups!
Four main reasons for turnip companion planting:
- helps maximize use of space in a garden or container
- certain plants grow better with turnips (sun exposure, taste)
- turnips are known to help deters pests
- turnips can help improve soil quality with other plants
Turnips can help maximize garden space
One of the benefits of turnip companion planting is that it can help to maximize space. Turnips can be planted in the ground, in a raised bed or in a container. The majority of space a turnip plant takes up is under the soil’s surface, so a container will need to be at least 12″ deep for best results. The leafy greens are fairly thin and grow 12-18″ tall, and can spread to a width of around 12″.
By strategically planting turnips with another companion plant, you can create a more diverse and efficient use of space. Because the leafy greens of a turnip need full sun exposure, most experienced gardeners tend to prefer growing shorter vegetables like salad greens or thin crops like garlic nearby. These combinations allow for the full sun for the turnip plant while also giving a little filtered sunlight or shade for the shorter, lower lying crops.
deter pests using turnip plants
Turnips are known to deter some common types of aphids. Aphids are one of the first and most common pest to show up on many types of vegetables in a garden. Planting turnips in a garden is a great way to proactively ward off some potential aphid issues.
On the flip side, grow garlic or chives nearby to help ward off some pests that can cause harm to turnips! While the turnips growing under the soil’s surface generally have less enemies, the greens on top do attract pests like whitefly and caterpillars.
Turnip plants can also help improve soil conditions
Companion planting with turnips can also help to improve the soil conditions for other vegetables. Turnips should only have a moderate amount of nitrogen in the soil. Why? Too much nitrogen feeds leafy greens, like the tops of turnips. This will result in a smaller, less desirable root (the actual turnip)!
If you use a good quality soil with compost, it will be jam-packed with nutrients including lots of nitrogen. Strategically, this is a great opportunity to plant another vegetable that NEEDS higher nitrogen near your turnip plants, which will benefit it plus the turnips growing under the surface! The plants that need the nitrogen get it, and the turnips are left with what they need… win/win!
Here are five turnip companion plants that can be especially beneficial:
5 Favorite Turnip Companion Plants
With a little experience, you’ll learn what your unique gardening challenges are. Every garden is different! Pests might be your main challenge. Soil quality could be your biggest issue. Whatever your main challenge is, find companion plants that can help you offset those challenges!
Some turnip companion plants will help deter pests that are a problem to your turnips. Other plants can help the soil quality. Approach which companion plants you chose strategically.
Note: don’t get discouraged with initial fails. Sometimes a combination of companion plants for one gardener won’t work for another. That’s OKAY! Keep trying different combinations until you hit on the ones that work for you and your unique garden!!! For faster trial and error situations, plant turnip varieties like White Knight or Tokyo Cross that mature in just about a month!
Garlic as a companion plant to turnips
Garlic is a favorite natural pest deterrent, acting as a natural guard against of many food gardeners. It naturally helps deter pests like aphids and certain beetles, which are otherwise very common problems for turnips. Garlic can also help improve the flavor of turnips when they are grown together.
Growing turnips and garlic together works well in both in-ground outdoor gardens as well as in containers. This winning combination is definitely worth a try! Every garden has different challenges, but if you want to just one companion plant for your turnip, try garlic!
Herbs make good companion plants to turnips
Herbs are small and low-lying. They need filtered sun but similar quality soil to turnips. When planted close to turnip plants, the leafy greens of the turnips act as a sunshade, protecting the herbs from too much direct sun.
This herb and turnip companion planting combo can work great in container gardening especially. Make sure the container is larger, at least 12″ deep. Try basil, mint, thyme and even catnip!
Radishes as a Companion Plant to Turnips
Radishes and turnips can be planted together because they have similar growing requirements and can be harvested at different times. This can help to maximize the use of space in your garden.
Aphids, as well as some beetles and borers can create real problems for turnips. Radishes can act as a natural deterrent, helping to protect your turnips from these pests.
The downside to this pairing is that both vegetables grow under the surface, so space requirements are a little more than some other companion duos. If space is limited, or if you have a rocky soil, this pair could be a little more challenging.
My favorite turnip companion plants are radishes, the Champion Radish variety. They germinate quickly, mature in just about 25 days and they taste great!
Tip: got limited space? Use a large container on a patio or balcony! I use a plastic rain barrel-looking planter that’s 14″ tall x 20″ wide (bought at Home Depot for $20) to grow my turnips and radishes together. I plant herbs like cilantro or basil in between, very close to the other plants, once they have leafy greens a few inches tall. The leafy greens provide much-needed filtered sun to the herbs, otherwise the direct sun is too much for them. I grow 2-3 of the Tokyo Cross turnip variety in this companion planting combination because it’s a short 30 day turnaround.
Lettuce
Lettuce and turnips make good companion plants because lettuce grows well in filtered sunlight. Turnips typically grow just a little taller than most lettuce varieties, providing a bit of shade for the lettuce during the hottest part of the day. Lettuce doesn’t take up much root space, which gives your turnips plenty of space to expand and grow within the soil. Turnips and lettuce also benefit from the same amount of water each day, both needing moderate amounts to stay healthy.
Onions:
If you field lots of issues with pests, try planting onion as a companion plant to your turnips. Onions help deter pests that commonly attack turnips and can also improve the flavor of turnips when grown together.
In conclusion, companion planting is a great strategy for growing turnips more successfully. By planting turnips with companion plants like garlic, lettuce, radishes, herbs and onions, you can maximize the use of space in your garden, deter pests, and improve the soil. This can lead to healthier and more productive turnip plants.
Live in Florida and want to try growing turnips? The University of Florida has wonderful agricultural resources. Check out this link for the University of Florida Gardening Solutions for Turnips.
