Best Companion Plants for Turnips (And What to Avoid)
Choosing the right companion plants can boost turnip growth, improve flavor, and reduce pests. Likewise, some plants can hinder turnip development or attract harmful pests.
Best Companion Plants for Turnips
- Peas and Beans: These nitrogen-fixers enrich soil, benefiting turnip roots.
- Onions, Garlic, and Leeks: Their strong scents repel common pests like aphids and flea beetles.
- Cabbage Family (Broccoli, Kale, Cabbage): Planting other brassicas nearby can create a beneficial microenvironment.
- Herbs (Dill, Mint, Rosemary): These attract beneficial insects that prey on turnip pests.
- Spinach and Lettuce: These leafy crops grow well alongside turnips, making good use of garden space.
Plants to Avoid Near Turnips
- Potatoes: Compete heavily for nutrients and can encourage similar pests.
- Strawberries: Susceptible to the same fungal diseases as turnips.
- Fennel: Inhibits growth of many vegetables, including turnips.
- Tomatoes: Can attract pests harmful to turnips and compete for nutrients.
My Experience
After years of garden experimentation, I’ve found planting onions and peas near turnips greatly reduces pest problems and improves harvest quality.
Turnip Growing Hub
🥗 Start here: The Ultimate Turnip Growing Guide: From Seed to Harvest
🌱 Planting & Timing
- When to Plant Turnips for Spring, Fall, and Winter Harvests
– Answers “when do I plant turnips?” with zone-based timing. - Turnip Seed Starting Tips
- Succession Planting Turnips for a Continuous Harvest
– Explains timing and spacing strategies to keep the harvest going. - How to Grow Turnips in Containers and Raised Beds
– Great for small-space and urban gardeners. Include container size and spacing details. - How to Space and Thin Turnips for Full Roots
– Many gardeners fail to thin properly. This solves a common issue.
🌿 Care & Maintenance
- How Much Water Do Turnips Need? A Watering Guide
– Helps answer “why are my turnips woody or bitter?” - How to Fertilize Turnips for Tender Roots and Tasty Greens
– A common struggle: too much leaf growth, small roots. - Best Companion Plants for Turnips (And What to Avoid)
– Evergreen content with strong search and Pinterest appeal. - How to Grow Turnips in Hot Weather or Warm Climates
– Address bolting, bitterness, and timing challenges in Zones 8–10.
🐛 Pests, Diseases & Troubleshooting
–Flea beetles, aphids, damping off, white rust Includes IPM methods
- Why Are My Turnips All Tops and No Roots? What Went Wrong
– Diagnostic article that answers a frequently asked gardener problem. - How to Prevent Woody Turnips and Improve Texture and Flavor
– Addresses late harvest, heat, and drought issues.
🧺 Harvest, Storage & Kitchen Use
- How and When to Harvest Turnips for Best Texture
– Cover baby turnips, mature roots, and leafy greens. - How to Harvest and Store Turnips
– Answers “how long do turnips last?” and “can you store turnips in sand?” - Freezing and Preserving Turnips: A Beginner’s Guide
– Popular in late fall/early winter, great for preserving guides. - Eight Ways to Cook and Serve Turnips: Roots, Greens, and Recipe Ideas
– Kitchen-friendly post that links to growing and harvesting. - How to Use Turnip Greens in the Kitchen
– Zero-waste kitchen content that connects gardeners and cooks.
🌾 Varieties & Seed Saving
- Best Turnip Varieties for Flavor, Size, and Growing Time
– Compare fast-maturing, heirloom, and dual-purpose types. - Turnip Varieties for Mild Climates and Short Seasons
– Useful for Zones 8–10 and gardeners with short falls.
