whenever I can. Each planting hole gets enough water to thoroughly moisten the surrounding soil, and I firm the roots in gently so there are no big air gaps.
For August planting in my area, I prefer varieties that mature in about 40 to 60 days. I keep row cover handy if flea beetles show up, and I watch for moisture swings, because a hard dry-out followed by a soaking can make roots woody or uneven. For families with picky eaters, smaller turnips harvested at 2 to 3 inches across
