Turnips are a cool-weather root vegetable that germinate in only a few days. Photo Credit Elena Koromyslova/Shutterstock Botanical Name Brassica rapa (Rapifera Group) Plant Type
Purple top turnips are a fantastic cool weather crop that can be grown in home gardens Their sweet, tender roots and nutrient-rich greens make them a tasty addition to soups, stews, and side dishes Growing purple top turnips from seed is easy and rewarding. Follow this simple guide for a bountiful harvest.
Selecting the Best Seeds
Look for an heirloom or open-pollinated purple top turnip variety. Good options include ‘Purple Top White Globe’, ‘Tokyo Cross’, and ‘Early Purple Top Milan’. These time-tested varieties produce tender roots with great flavor. Purchase fresh seeds each year from a reputable source.
When to Plant
Purple top turnips grow best as a fall crop. They can tolerate light frosts but not sustained freezing temps. Plant them 4-6 weeks before your first expected fall frost. In mild winter climates, you can also grow turnips as a winter or early spring crop.
Preparing the Soil
Turnips thrive in loose, fertile soil that drains well Work compost into your planting beds to enrich the soil. Turnips grow best in soil with a pH between 5.5-68. If needed, add lime to raise pH or sulfur to lower it. Fresh manure can cause malformed roots so avoid using it right before planting.
Direct Sowing the Seeds
You can sow turnip seeds directly in the garden. Space rows 12-24 inches apart. Use your finger to make 1⁄2 inch deep trenches in the rows. Place seeds 1 inch apart in the trenches and cover lightly with soil. Water gently to settle the seeds without washing them away.
Caring for Seedlings
Keep soil moist as the seeds germinate. Thin turnip seedlings to 4-6 inches apart once they reach a few inches tall. This allows the roots to size up. As the weather warms, apply an organic mulch like straw around the plants to keep the soil cool and moist.
Watering Needs
Consistent watering is key for fast turnip growth. Allow the top few inches of soil to dry out between waterings but don’t let plants wilt. Deep weekly soakings are better than frequent light watering. Install drip irrigation if rainfall is lacking.
Fertilizing Turnips
Work a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil before planting. When plants are mid-sized, you can also side dress with compost or fish emulsion. Nitrogen promotes leafy top growth while phosphorus aids root enlargement.
Problems to Watch For
Weeds, pests like cabbage worms, and diseases like clubroot can bother turnips. Maintain a 2-3 inch layer of mulch to smother weeds. Remove damaged leaves promptly and use row covers if pests persist. Avoid planting turnips in the same spot each year to prevent disease buildup.
Harvesting Hints
Begin harvesting turnips when the roots reach 3-4 inches wide. Use a garden fork to gently loosen the soil and pull up mature turnips. Cut off the greens, leaving 1⁄2 inch of stem. Rinse off excess dirt but don’t scrub the roots.
Storing the Harvest
Store turnip roots in perforated plastic bags in the fridge for 2-3 weeks. They can also be kept cool and moist in a root cellar for winter use. Turnip greens are best consumed fresh. Blanch and freeze any surplus greens.
Enjoying Your Bounty
The sweet, mild flavor of purple top turnips shines when they’re simply roasted or mashed with butter. Add them to stews, soups, and roasted veggie medleys. Sauté the peppery greens with garlic for a quick side. Ferment turnips into a probiotic-rich condiment. With proper care, you can enjoy homegrown turnips for months!
Growing purple top turnips is easy and rewarding. Give this cool weather crop a try in your fall garden for a bounty of sweet, tender roots and nutritious greens. With a little preparation and care, you’ll be harvesting armloads of these tasty vegetables.
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Turnips
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Turnips are cool-weather root vegetables that can be grown in both spring and fall. They mature quickly, and the bright greens and roots can both be enjoyed. Learn more about this ancient root vegetable—all the way from planting to harvesting.
Turnips will grow in spring or fall weather but do not like the hot summer months. (Note that an autumn crop seeded in late summer is usually sweeter and more tender than a spring crop, and pests are less of a problem.)
Turnips are seeded directly into the garden; they do not transplant well. Plus, they germinate in only a few days. Within a month, their greens are ready to harvest, and within a second month, the swollen roots are ready to be taken up.
How do you cook turnips? Turnips can be eaten raw, baked, boiled, roasted, or mashed. Prepare turnips as you would carrots. Or, try them as an alternative to potatoes; we enjoy a turnip gratin or a turnip soufflé. Read Next
Turnips grow best in full sun when temperatures range from 40° to 75°F. As soon as the garden can be worked, loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches. Mix in 2 to 4 inches of aged manure and/or compost. Add more to heavy, clay soil to improve drainage.
How to Plant Turnips
- Before planting, mix in a nice low organic fertilizer (such as a 5-5-5) about 12 inches into the soil. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen, or you’ll get leafy greens at the expense of a big root. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers.
- Sow seeds directly in the soil ¼ to ½ of an inch deep, 1 inch apart, in rows 12 to 18 inches apart.
- You can also scatter turnip seeds and thin the seedlings later.
- Cover seeds with not more than ½ an inch of soil.
- Water well and consistently.
- Protect spring crops from pests with row covers at planting.
- Once seedlings are 4 inches high, thin them to 4 to 6 inches apart. Crowding can result in small or malformed roots. If you grow them any closer than 4 inches, they’re not going to grow.
- Keep the beds weed-free, but be careful of disturbing the root of young turnips.
- Mulch heavily to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Turnips do not need much care, but consistent soil moisture is important. Water regularly to keep the soil lightly moist; one inch per week should prevent roots from becoming tough and bitter.
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FAQ
How long does it take for purple top turnips to grow?
Under ideal growing conditions, they’ll grow very fast and can reach maturity in 50-80 days.Dec 7, 2017
What is the secret to growing turnips?
Turnips generally prefer cool conditions, so spring sowings usually germinate quickly and abundantly, while in hot dry weather germination may be less successful. Turnips like moisture-retentive soil, in an open, sunny spot.
What is the best month to plant turnips?
Plant turnips beginning April 15 for a spring crop, and again August 1 for a fall crop.
Do turnips like full sun or shade?
Like most vegetables, turnips prefer full sun but if they are grown solely for their leaves, they will tolerate partial shade. Turnips can have issues with pests like slugs, snails and aphids, but the turnip growing season is short so typically the vegetable is harvested before the pests become an issue.
How do you grow purple top turnips?
Four to six weeks before the final frost, sow purple top turnip seeds approximately 1 inch apart in the trenches, gently burying the seeds with soil, for harvest in late spring. Temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for growing purple tops and other turnip kinds. How long does it take to grow white globe purple top turnips?
What is a purple top turnip?
‘ Purple Top White Globe’: Plants produce 4- to 5-inch, nearly round, white-fleshed roots with purple shoulders. Young leaves can be cooked as greens. Also known as ‘Purple-Top Globe’. ‘Yellow Globe’: Large turnip with unusually mild, crisp, cream-colored flesh. ‘White Lady’: Hybrid.
When should I plant purple top turnips?
In northern areas, plant seeds directly in the garden 4-6 weeks before your average first fall frost. In southern zones with mild winters, plant in late summer or early fall. Purple top turnips grow best when temperatures are cool, ideally below 75°F during the day. Hot summer temperatures cause them to bolt and become bitter.
Can you eat purple top turnips raw?
How to Plant Purple Top Turnips Purple top turnips are a cool-season vegetable that are easy to grow in most gardens. They are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and they can be eaten raw, cooked, or pickled.
How do you care for purple top turnips?
Keep the soil moist by watering the purple top turnips on a constant schedule. This guarantees the most sensitive tubers and the highest growth. Allow the soil to remain moist at all times. Midway through the growing season, side dresses the purple tops with compost by distributing it between the rows adjacent to the plants.
Are purple top turnips good for winter?
They’re delicious simply cooked as a side vegetable, roasted or added to winter stews. Purple top turnips are a popular cool season crop grown for their nutritious greens and roots. These quick growing plants thrive in cool weather and can be planted in early spring or late summer for a fall harvest.