Companion Plant Guide
Pea
Peas fix nitrogen that the leafy tops use.
Vegetable · Brassica family
Turnip companion plants
Brassica rapa subsp. rapa
What to plant with turnips, what to keep apart, and how to grow them — sun, spacing, soil and the reason behind every pairing.
Photo: Vanessa Bucceri on Unsplash
Overview
Growing turnips beside the right neighbour
Turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa) is a vegetable in the Brassica family. Fast cool-season root crop; both roots and greens are edible.
A quick cool-season root — sow in spring or late summer and pull young for the sweetest roots.
Give plants 4–6 in in sun or part shade. Aim for loose, well-draining soil, ph 6.0–7.5. In most gardens the crop sits in USDA zones 2-11 and is ready in about 40-60 days.
Grows well with
What to plant with turnips
The best companion plants for turnips in this guide are Pea, Onion, Nasturtium, and Thyme. Each pairing below is a reason to share a bed — pest masking, roots that do not compete, or insects that hunt the pests drawn to turnips.
Onion
Strong scent helps mask turnips from aphids and flea beetles.
Nasturtium
Trap crop for aphids and flea beetles.
Thyme
Aromatic cover that confuses cabbage-family pests.
In the bed
How to grow turnips
| Sun | Sun or part shade |
|---|---|
| Spacing | 4–6 in |
| Soil | Loose, well-draining soil, pH 6.0–7.5 |
| Hardiness | Zones 2-11 |
| Days to maturity | 40-60 |
These notes sit beside the companion lists — they are how turnip actually occupies the bed, not a substitute for local climate.
- Sow direct in early spring or late summer
- Thin seedlings to 4–6 in so roots can swell
- Keep soil evenly moist to stop roots turning woody
- Harvest at 2–3 in across for the best flavour
Questions
Turnip companion planting FAQ
What can I plant next to turnips?
Plant Pea, Onion, Nasturtium, and Thyme beside turnips. Pea: Peas fix nitrogen that the leafy tops use. Onion: Strong scent helps mask turnips from aphids and flea beetles. Nasturtium: Trap crop for aphids and flea beetles. Thyme: Aromatic cover that confuses cabbage-family pests.
What should I not plant with turnips?
Turnip has no recorded antagonists in this guide — it gets on with most of the bed.
How much sun do turnip plants need?
Turnip plants want sun or part shade. Space them 4–6 in apart in loose, well-draining soil, ph 6.0–7.5.
How long do turnip plants take to mature?
Most turnip plants are ready in about 40-60 days. Turnip grows in USDA hardiness zones 2-11.
Compare every pairing at a glance
Open the guide, pick turnip, and see what thrives alongside it — and what quietly holds it back.
Open the pairing guide