Turnips are dearly loved all around the world. They fit in salads or go well in a sandwich; even with chicken, there is always a place for them on our food table.
Imagine growing them in your garden and getting lovely, tasty turnips whenever you want without going to the market.
Turnips grown in the garden can get even healthier and tastier if you plant them near good companion plants of turnips.
Certain plants are referred to as good companions of turnips which boost the growth of turnips while enjoying some benefits from turnips for their healthier growth.
In this article, you will learn about good companion plants of turnips, along with their growing requirements and what plants should not be planted near them.
Why do Turnips Need Companion Plants?
The primary benefit Turnip gets from companion planting is pest protection. Turnips get pest protection from plants like mints, nasturtiums, garlic, and many others.
Good turnips companion plants deter pests like aphids, beetles, spider mites, and many others.
Many of these companion plants even attract pest predators, which feed on pests, ensuring they will be eliminated if any pests attack turnips.
Good companion plants of turnips help in healthier crop growth, as plants like beans fix nitrogen in the soil and release the nitrogen for plants like turnips to use to boost their flavor and productivity.
Other good companion plants like marjoram, mint, Thyme, and basils provide a good ground cover and do the job of a mulch by keeping the soil moist and controlling the temperatures required by turnips for smooth and faster growth.
5 Best Turnips Companion Plants
As we now know why turnips need companion planting, let us know about what are those companion plants which can boost the growth of your turnips and enhance the productivity of your garden.
1. Garlic
Garlic and turnips are good friends as they benefit each other mutually, and it is a must-have plant next to your turnips.
Garlic is a perennial plant that is used as a herb or for seasoning around the world. Turnips help repel borers that target garlic and try to feed on them. In return, garlic helps turnips by deterring harmful pests like aphids and beetles from harming them.
They both are bulb plants and do not compete with each other.
2. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are another good neighbor of turnips and benefit each other a lot in growth and productivity.
Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for aphids that like to party on the turnips. Nasturtiums help turnips by preventing pest infestations and attracting beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies, which prey on tiny pests like aphids.
Nasturtiums also work as a very good ground cover and prevent weed growth by working as a mulch keeping the soil moist for the turnips roots.
They add vibrancy to your garden, and planting turnips and nasturtiums together will bloom your garden.
3. Catnip
This perennial plant is an excellent companion plant of turnips and is used all over the world for its minty flavor.
Turnips are loved by domestic gardeners, and they are also loved by deer and other animals, like rabbits, who love to bite them.
Catnip prevents this plant from deer attacks as the pungent smell deters deer and insects. They also help turnips by attracting pest eater, which feeds on aphids and beetles if they make it to turnips.
Catnip can be invasive, unlike mint, but it still can take up a lot of space in your garden, so please plan accordingly.
4. Thyme
Another herb that makes it to the list, Thyme, is actually a brilliant companion plant of turnips and acts as a protector of turnips.
Thyme repels pests that feed on turnips, like aphids, spider mites, and beetles. And in addition to that, they also attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies, which prey on pests.
If any insect or prey makes it to the turnip plant, these insects prey on them, providing protection to the turnip plant.
Thyme is a low-maintenance perennial plant used for medical purposes, so it is always a win-win situation for you if you plant thymes near turnips.
5. Rosemary
A plant enjoyed by every gardener, Rosemary prevents a lot of insects that want to feed on turnips, making them good partners in the garden.
Rosemary repels white cabbage butterflies and flea beetles away from the plants nearby them and act as protective layer to increase a healthy growth.
3 Worst Companion Plants For Turnips
When you have many options to choose from, there is also a list of plants you should avoid planting near turnips, which can only worsen the condition of your garden, harming both turnips and other plants.
Below are the plants to avoid planting near turnips.
1. Potatoes
Potatoes hamper the growth of turnips as they both have underground roots and compete for soil nutrients. They also have spacing issues underground, and growth will be stunted if planted together as neither of these plants will have ample space to grow.
2. Hedge Mustard
Turnips will be highly affected if hedge mustard is planted with them, as the latter attracts pests like cabbage flies and others.
They will also compete for growth as hedge mustard belongs to the turnip family tampering with turnip’s health.
3. Fennel
A harmful chemical is produced by the plants, which affects the growth and health of any plant growing near them, including turnips.
No plant is known to be a good companion plant to fennel, and it should be planted separately in the corner of the garden away from any plants.
What Are Turnips’ Growing Requirements?
As we learned about plants that are good companions and what should be avoided near turnips.
Let us see the growing requirements of turnips and in which conditions they grow well.
1. Light Requirements
Interestingly, turnips require full sunlight to thrive and produce good flavored crops, but they can also perform well in partial shade.
2. Soil Requirements
Turnips require well-draining soil for their growth, as soggy soil will make the root rot. A good fertile soil will help the growth and productivity of the plant.
3. Water Requirements
Turnips require an inch deep of water to the soil every week for speedy and healthy growth of roots. They require moderate watering every week, neither too much nor too little, for prosperous growth.
4. Temperature Requirements
Despite their requirement for full sunlight, turnips are cool-weather crops that require a pleasant spring to grow well.
5. Fertilizing Requirements
Turnips do not need much fertilizer, or any fertilizer for that matter. They are generally self and a fast-growing crop. You can add mulch and organic matter before sowing the seeds.
Grass Diseases And Pests
Turnips are exposed to many pests and insects, which are generally found in brassicas plants. Turnip mosaic virus, clubroot, and leaf spot are some of the common diseases of turnip plants.
Insects like aphids, flea beetles, and spider mites attack turnips, stunting their growth.
Intense spraying of water through a jet spray or such can be a cure for these aphids. Applying neem oil to the flea beetles-affected parts of the plants can be a solution.
The bulb of the turnip plant is very vulnerable and is damaged by root maggots and wireworms. Floating row covers are a preventive measure for root maggots as it stops their reproduction.
Small brown, dark spots which turn gray are a sign of fungal infection in turnips, and crop rotation can help prevent this.
Conclusion
Companion planting is a very good method of increasing the productivity and effectiveness of your garden. Growing good companion plants of turnips enhances the crop’s health, production, and flavor.
This article helps in learning five good companion plants of turnips that will boost your health and the three worst companion plants of turnips that can hamper the growth of your plants.
Upon reading this article, you will also get all the information about turnips, their growing requirements, and what are the diseases and pests that affect their growth. You can also use this article as a guide for better and more vibrant gardening.
Till then, happy gardening.