When to plant turnips in Colorado

Turnips
Sow outdoors in Denver
Apr 6–Apr 20

Across Colorado the window opens between March 17 and April 12. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Denver
Apr 6–Apr 20
Fall planting, Denver
Jul 30–Aug 13
Last frost, Denver
May 4

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Fall turnips are sweeter. Pull them at 2–3 inches across.

Turnips planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
DenverApr 6–Apr 20
Colorado SpringsApr 5–Apr 19
AuroraApr 9–Apr 23
Fort CollinsApr 4–Apr 18
LakewoodApr 5–Apr 19
ThorntonApr 4–Apr 18
ArvadaApr 7–Apr 21
WestminsterApr 4–Apr 18
GreeleyApr 4–Apr 18
PuebloApr 2–Apr 16
CentennialApr 7–Apr 21
BoulderApr 8–Apr 22
LongmontApr 9–Apr 23
LovelandApr 12–Apr 26
BroomfieldApr 4–Apr 18
Commerce CityApr 5–Apr 19
Grand JunctionMar 17–Mar 31
LittletonApr 4–Apr 18
BrightonApr 5–Apr 19
WindsorApr 5–Apr 19
ErieApr 9–Apr 23
NorthglennApr 4–Apr 18
Security-WidefieldApr 5–Apr 19
EnglewoodApr 4–Apr 18
Pueblo WestMar 29–Apr 12
Wheat RidgeApr 7–Apr 21
LafayetteApr 4–Apr 18
FountainApr 5–Apr 19
EvansApr 4–Apr 18
JohnstownApr 12–Apr 26
All 34 cities
CitySow outdoorsFall plantingLast frost
DenverApr 6 to Apr 20Jul 30 to Aug 13May 4
Colorado SpringsApr 5 to Apr 19Jul 30 to Aug 13May 3
AuroraApr 9 to Apr 23Jul 30 to Aug 13May 7
Fort CollinsApr 4 to Apr 18Jul 29 to Aug 12May 2
LakewoodApr 5 to Apr 19Jul 29 to Aug 12May 3
ThorntonApr 4 to Apr 18Aug 2 to Aug 16May 2
ArvadaApr 7 to Apr 21Jul 27 to Aug 10May 5
WestminsterApr 4 to Apr 18Aug 2 to Aug 16May 2
GreeleyApr 4 to Apr 18Jul 30 to Aug 13May 2
PuebloApr 2 to Apr 16Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 30
CentennialApr 7 to Apr 21Jul 30 to Aug 13May 5
BoulderApr 8 to Apr 22Jul 27 to Aug 10May 6
LongmontApr 9 to Apr 23Jul 27 to Aug 10May 7
LovelandApr 12 to Apr 26May 10
BroomfieldApr 4 to Apr 18Aug 2 to Aug 16May 2
Commerce CityApr 5 to Apr 19Jul 29 to Aug 12May 3
Grand JunctionMar 17 to Mar 31Aug 14 to Aug 28Apr 14
LittletonApr 4 to Apr 18Aug 2 to Aug 16May 2
BrightonApr 5 to Apr 19Jul 29 to Aug 12May 3
WindsorApr 5 to Apr 19Jul 28 to Aug 11May 3
ErieApr 9 to Apr 23Jul 27 to Aug 10May 7
NorthglennApr 4 to Apr 18Aug 2 to Aug 16May 2
Security-WidefieldApr 5 to Apr 19Jul 30 to Aug 13May 3
EnglewoodApr 4 to Apr 18Aug 2 to Aug 16May 2
Pueblo WestMar 29 to Apr 12Aug 4 to Aug 18Apr 26
Wheat RidgeApr 7 to Apr 21Jul 27 to Aug 10May 5
LafayetteApr 4 to Apr 18Aug 2 to Aug 16May 2
FountainApr 5 to Apr 19Jul 30 to Aug 13May 3
EvansApr 4 to Apr 18Jul 30 to Aug 13May 2
JohnstownApr 12 to Apr 26May 10
Four Square MileApr 9 to Apr 23Jul 30 to Aug 13May 7
MontroseMar 31 to Apr 14Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 28
LouisvilleApr 8 to Apr 22Jul 27 to Aug 10May 6
FirestoneApr 9 to Apr 23Jul 27 to Aug 10May 7

Questions

When should I plant turnips in Colorado?

In Denver, sow outdoors from April 6 to April 20. Across Colorado the window opens between March 17 and April 12, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Colorado

Turnips in other states

Frost dates for every city in Colorado