When to Plant Turnip in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
Sow September to April. Right now in September you can sow.
Grow Turnip in your space
- Planting window
- Plant September-March. Avoid the coldest months. Fast varieties give the quickest return in the short season.
- Days to harvest
- 40 days
- Sunlight
- Full sun to light shade
- Water needs
- Consistent, even moisture is critical. Irregular watering produces woody, pithy, bitter...
- Spacing
- 12cm apart, 30cm between rows
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.5
- Shop price
- $7.50/kg average
Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
This Turnip guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Turnips are a fast-growing, cool-season root crop that matures in 6-10 weeks. Both the root and the nutritious leafy tops (turnip greens) are edible. They are easier and faster than swedes, making them a better choice for warmer Australian zones where swedes struggle. An underrated vegetable that deserves a place in every winter garden.
Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | D | D | D | - | - | - | - | D | D | D | D |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 12.9°C (optimal range: 7–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant
Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.
How to Grow Turnip in Cold / Highland Australia
When to Plant
Plant September-March. Avoid the coldest months. Fast varieties give the quickest return in the short season.
- Soil
- Well-drained, fertile loam with good moisture retention. Avoid heavy clay or compacted soil which causes misshapen roots. Prepare with well-rotted compost.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun to light shade
- Spacing
- 12cm apart, 30cm between rows
- Watering
- Consistent, even moisture is critical. Irregular watering produces woody, pithy, bitter roots. Water deeply 2-3 times per week in dry conditions.
Companion plants: Pea, Onion, Garlic, Nasturtium (trap crop for aphids)
Avoid planting near: Other brassicas (shared pests and diseases), Strawberry
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Turnip
Recommended Varieties
- Purple Top Milan
- White Globe
- Snowball
Key Challenges
- Short growing season
- Cold soil slows early sowings
- Cabbage root fly
Pro Tips
- Choose fast-maturing varieties (45-60 days)
- Start under cloches in early spring to extend the season
- Turnips tolerate light frost. They can extend into early autumn
Harvesting Turnip
When ready: Roots are 5-8cm diameter (golf ball to tennis ball size) for best flavour. Shoulder visible at soil level. Harvest EARLY - turnips become woody, pithy, and bitter if left too long.
How to harvest: Grasp foliage near crown and pull. Water bed beforehand if soil is dry. For larger winter types, loosen soil with a fork first.
Worth growing?
A 2.4 m × 1.2 m bed fits 46 plants, about $69 worth at today’s Coles prices, checked on 20 September.
That is roughly 9 kg at $7.50 a kilo.
Draw your turnip bed → No account needed.
Common Turnip Pests in Cold / Highland Zones
Organic prevention (Cabbage Root Fly (Turnip Maggot)): Crop rotation (3-4 year minimum for brassicas). Remove crop debris. Do not compost infested roots.
Where to next
Supermarket Price
Current average retail: $7.50/kg (12-month range: $7.00–$7.50)
Grow your own and save on grocery bills.
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Open the planting dashboard Join GardenBuddy.auCommon Questions About Turnip
When do you plant turnip in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jun
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to May, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to May, Aug to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to May, Aug to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Apr, Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Feb to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to May, Aug to Dec
Does turnip grow all year round in Canberra?
No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Jan to Apr, Sep to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.