Grow Turnip (Shaljam) in Pots: Sowing, Thinning, Harvest
Shaljam is a cool weather root that goes from seed to plate in six to ten weeks. If you are wondering how to grow turnip at home in the plains: sow seed straight into a pot between late September and November, thin the seedlings hard, keep the soil evenly moist, and pull the roots at tennis ball size before they turn woody.
Before you sow
- Method: seed, sown directly; turnips don’t like being moved
- Pot: 15 to 20 litres, at least 10 to 12 inches deep, or a grow bag
- Spacing: 10 cm apart for baby roots and greens, 15 cm for full size
- Sun: 5 to 6 hours of winter sun
- Sowing (plains): late September to November
- Harvest: early types from about six weeks, maincrops around ten
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When should you sow turnip in Pakistan and North India?
Turnip is a winter crop on the plains. Sow it in heat and it bolts (shoots up a flower stalk) or makes a hot, stringy root. The roots sweeten after cold nights, which is why January shaljam tastes better than November’s.
| Zone | Sow | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab plains (Lahore, Faisalabad, Delhi) | Late September to November | Two or three sowings, three weeks apart |
| Hot dry (Multan, Sukkur, Bahawalpur) | October to November | Wait until days drop below about 32C |
| Coastal humid (Karachi) | November to December | Short window; choose quick, small rooted types |
| Sub humid (Islamabad, Peshawar) | September to October; February | Can manage a late winter sowing too |
| Hills | March to May; August | Avoid summer heat spells |
How do you sow turnip seeds in a pot?
- Mix 2 parts garden soil, 1 part compost, 1 part sand or cocopeat (see potting mix ratios). Sieve out stones and clods so roots grow round, not forked.
- Skip fresh manure; it makes hairy, split roots. Well rotted compost is fine.
- Water the mix the day before so it’s evenly damp.
- Sow seeds 1 cm deep, two or three per spot, spots 10 to 15 cm apart. A 15 litre round pot fits about five full size roots.
- Seedlings appear in 4 to 7 days. At two leaves, snip extras with scissors so one stays per spot. Pulling disturbs the neighbours.
- Cook the thinnings as greens. Nothing goes to waste.
There’s no cutting, graft or layering route for turnip, and you don’t need one. Fresh seed from a reliable shop matters more than any trick: old seed germinates patchily.
Harvest the leaves twice before the root
From week four, cut two or three outer leaves per plant for saag, never the centre. The root keeps swelling, and you get a pot of shaljam greens long before the main harvest. Take more than a third of the leaves, though, and roots stay small.
How much water, and what feed?
Even moisture is the single biggest factor. The RHS notes that dry spells give small, woody roots, can trigger bolting, and that irregular watering splits them.
- October (still warm): water daily or every other day; pots dry fast.
- December and January: every 3 to 4 days, in the morning. Frost won’t harm the roots much, but covering pots with a cloth on very cold Lahore nights keeps leaves tidy.
- Feed: compost in the mix is usually enough. If leaves pale, one dose of a balanced liquid feed at label strength. Avoid heavy nitrogen: lush tops, small roots.
Why are my turnip leaves yellow, and why no roots?
“Not fruiting” for turnip means no swollen root. The usual culprits: too crowded (the most common), too much shade, too warm, too much nitrogen, or a dry pot. Yellow outer leaves in an otherwise healthy plant are just old leaves; widespread yellowing means hunger or waterlogging.
| Problem | Sign | Organic first response |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids (mealy grey) | Grey clusters under leaves, curling | Squash or hose off; mild soap spray |
| Flea beetle | Tiny shot holes in seedlings | Fine net over the pot until 4 leaves; keep soil moist |
| Cabbage caterpillars | Ragged holes, green droppings | Hand pick daily; net against butterflies |
| Bolting | Tall flower stalk, root goes woody | Sow later in cooler weather, keep water steady |
Turnip itself is a safe food plant. The care is with sprays: soap, water and nets come first. If you use anything stronger, read the label, wear gloves and a mask, keep children and pets away until it dries, and wait the full stated period before eating leaves or roots. Anyone told to keep vitamin K steady because of a blood thinner should check with their doctor before suddenly eating large amounts of turnip greens.
When is turnip ready to pull?
For eating raw or quick pickles, pull at golf ball size. For cooking, tennis ball size. Bigger than that and the RHS warns they turn woody and bitter, which matches every stall’s oversize winter shaljam. Look at the shoulder pushing above the soil, or brush the mix aside to check. Pull one, taste it, then lift the rest over the next week or two. Our shaljam picking and cooking guide takes it from there.
Thin early, water evenly, pull small. That is nine tenths of turnip growing.
Grow it or skip it?
Grow it. Turnip is cheap, fast, forgiving and ideal for a first winter in pots, with greens as a bonus. A pot or two will give you a few meals across the season. It pairs well with the plants in our beginner’s first five. Explore more in Kitchen Garden.
Turnip in pots: common questions
How long does turnip take to grow?
Early types can be ready in about six weeks; maincrop types take around ten. Cooler weather slows them a little but improves flavour.
What is the best time to grow turnip in Pakistan?
Late September to November in the Punjab plains, a little later in Sindh and Karachi. Avoid sowing in heat.
Can turnip grow in a small pot?
Yes, if it’s at least 10 inches deep. A shallower pot gives small or misshapen roots; you can still grow it for greens.
Why are my turnips all leaves and no root?
Usually crowding or too much nitrogen. Thin to 10 to 15 cm apart and stop rich feeds.
Why did my turnip split?
A dry spell followed by heavy watering. Keep moisture even, especially as roots swell.
Can I grow turnip from the top of a shop turnip?
A cut top will sprout leaves for greens, but it won’t form a new root. Use seed for roots.
Do turnips need full sun?
Five to six hours is enough in winter. Less than that, and roots stay thin.
Can I eat turnip leaves?
Yes, young leaves are a good cooked green. Pick outer leaves only so the root keeps growing.
Why are my turnips bitter?
Usually left too long, grown in heat, or dried out. Pull them smaller and sow in the cool months.