Home gardeners will thin out the plants as they are growing eating the greens that they thin, and leaving behind others to form roots. In the southern parts of the state, you could still seed turnips through October if you are growing them for roots. Generally speaking a lighter soil is better for turnips especially if you are growing the roots. Turnips are a shallow rooted cool season crop, and it does need ample water for germination and vigorous growth. If you are interested in roots, back off on the nitrogen fertilizer a bit, so that you don t have as many tops.
Turnips make a nice winter cover crop for the garden.
They may freeze back a bit, but the turnip roots and greens can be harvested all winter. Collards Collards are one of the oldest members of the cabbage group. These leafy, non-heading cabbages, originated in the eastern Mediterranean or Asia Minor and are the wild forms of cabbage first used in prehistoric times. Home gardeners often plant transplants for collards versus seeds. When planting from seed there is a 60 days minimum before harvesting.