Radish vs Turnip: Speed plus Size plus Harvest
Radish vs turnip is a common question for cool season gardeners. Both are fast root crops sown straight into the garden. Spring radishes are small plus ready in weeks. Turnips grow larger roots over about two months plus also yield leafy tops.
The short answer
Spring radishes mature 25 to 45 days from seeding, per Utah State University Extension. Pull them under 1 inch wide. Turnips mature in about two months plus are pulled at 2 to 3 inches wide. Both prefer cool weather, sun plus fertile, well drained soil with steady moisture.
How fast do radishes and turnips grow?
Radishes rank among the quickest crops. Utah State University Extension notes roots are mature 25 to 45 days from seeding, depending on variety. Seeds need 5 to 10 days to emerge. Plant at 10 day intervals for a steady supply.
Turnips need longer. University of Illinois Extension notes they mature in two months. UF/IFAS gives 40 to 60 days for turnip roots. Seeds take about 5 days to germinate, per UF/IFAS.
| Trait | Radish | Turnip |
|---|---|---|
| Days to harvest | 25 to 45 days | About two months |
| Seed depth | ¼ to ½ inch | ½ inch |
| Thinning space | ½ to 1 inch for spring types | 2 to 4 inches |
| Harvest size | Under 1 inch wide | 2 to 3 inches wide |
| Spring sowing | As soon as soil can be worked | As early in spring as possible |
Source: University of Illinois Extension plus Utah State University Extension.
How do their roots differ?
Spring radish roots are small plus vary in shape, size plus color by variety. Utah State University Extension lists Cherry Belle, Icicle plus Easter Egg among common types. Winter radishes such as daikon grow much larger. They are sown in midsummer, much like fall turnips, per University of Illinois Extension.
Turnip roots are rounded plus white or white with a purple top, per UF/IFAS. Turnip leaves are fuzzy plus green with stems that often show purple coloration. Radishes stay in prime condition only briefly before they turn pithy.
Which suits small gardens?
Radishes fit nearly any space. University of Illinois Extension notes they grow wherever there is sun plus moist, fertile soil, even on the smallest city lot. Sow them in spaces between slow crops such as broccoli. Spring radishes can also grow in a cold frame, window box or container.
Turnips want more room per plant. UF/IFAS advises rows 18 inches apart with plants thinned to 3 inches. Both crops fit short rows sown in succession.
How to: step by step
- Prepare fertile, well drained soil rich in organic matter.
- Sow radishes 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost.
- Sow turnips as early in spring as possible.
- Thin radishes to 1 to 2 inches plus turnips to 2 to 4 inches.
- Water often plus evenly so the soil stays moist.
- Pull radishes at full size plus turnips at 2 to 3 inches wide.
Troubleshooting
Cracked radish roots: moisture swings or old roots. Water evenly plus harvest radishes younger.
Pithy, woody radishes: slow growth or late harvest. Check often plus pull roots as soon as they reach usable size.
Stringy turnips: roots left too long. Harvest at 3 inches wide or less.
For related reading see cannabis taproot vs fibrous roots, cannabis leaf anatomy plus raised beds for cannabis. Kind Seed Co also stocks cannabis seeds.
Sources
- Radish, home vegetable gardening, University of Illinois Extension
- Turnip, home vegetable gardening, University of Illinois Extension
- How to grow radishes in your garden, Utah State University Extension
- Turnips, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
FAQ
Can radishes and turnips be planted together?
Yes, they share the cool season. University of Illinois Extension notes winter radishes are sown at the same time as late turnips, usually midsummer to late summer. Spring radishes also fit in spaces between slower crops. Give turnips more room, since their roots grow larger than spring radishes. Thin each crop to its own spacing.
Why do radishes crack?
Moisture swings plus age. Utah State University Extension notes old radishes generally split, so harvest them younger. A heavy watering after a dry period also causes mature roots to split. Water radishes regularly plus mulch around the plants to conserve soil moisture. Drip irrigation helps hold moisture even through the season.
Why do radishes grow all tops but no roots?
Crowding is a common cause. Utah State University Extension notes plants sown too thickly plus not thinned properly fail to form good roots. Thin radishes to 1 to 2 inches apart in rows 10 to 12 inches apart. Radishes also grow poorly when temperatures exceed 80°F, so sow in cool weather.
When should turnips be harvested?
Pull them at 2 to 3 inches wide. University of Illinois Extension notes turnips are of top quality at that size when they grow quickly without interruption. UF/IFAS advises harvesting at 3 inches or less, since larger roots turn pithy plus stringy. Turnips are hardy to fall frosts, so fall roots can be pulled as needed.
Can radishes grow in containers?
Yes. University of Illinois Extension notes spring radishes can be planted in late winter in a cold frame, window box or container on the patio. Use fertile soil with steady moisture. Sow seed ¼ to ½ inch deep plus thin spring varieties to ½ to 1 inch apart so roots have room to form.
