Tool to Plant Turnip Seeds

Tillage

Work the soil of the garden with a tiller before planting in the spring. A tiller uses rotating tines powered by a gas engine to turn and break up the soil, leaving a looser mix of the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Accomplish the same results in smaller gardens with a garden spade or fork.

Garden rakes smooth the soil after the tilling the soil. Use a hoe to remove weeds from the garden and to form rows for planting. Use a corner of the hoe to create a 1/2-inch trench in the soil. Place a turnip seed about every 1/2 inch. Use the hoe to thin the plants to one about every 2 inches when the plants emerge. Place the rows about 12 inches apart for manual cultivation or at a proper spacing to fit any mechanized equipment you plan to use.

After planting and before emergence of the turnip, it is impossible to see where the seeds were planted. Gardeners often mark the row locations to make it easier to identify the seedlings as they emerge. Twigs of sticks found on the ground are one option, although some gardeners use special markers where they can note the species and variety of planting.

Water the turnip seeds after planting to aid in germination. Most gardeners use a garden hose to distribute water to the garden. In addition, sprinklers spray the water across the garden, providing a more even moisture distribution.