Turnip Seeds

Turnip is a hardy, dual-purpose root vegetable (Brassica rapa) grown for both its smooth, round roots and its nutritious leafy greens. These turnip seeds sprout readily and produce classic purple-top-style roots with crisp white flesh and a mild, slightly sweet flavor when young. A time-honored cool-season staple, turnips are among the easiest and most productive vegetables for spring and fall gardens. Who it's for Great for gardeners who want a reliable, high-yielding cool-season crop, and for cooks who enjoy both tender roots and hearty greens from a single planting. How & when to plant Direct sow 2–4 weeks before your last spring frost, and again in late summer 8–10 weeks before your first fall frost. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows 12 inches apart, thinning to 4 inches, in full sun. Turnips grow well in USDA zones 3–9 and prefer loose, evenly moist soil for smooth, tender roots. Harvest Roots mature in about 40–55 days. Pull when they reach 2–3 inches across for the best texture; smaller roots are sweeter and more tender. Greens can be harvested earlier, snipping young leaves as needed. Benefits & uses Turnips are wonderfully versatile in the kitchen: roast, mash, or add them to soups and stews, or slice young roots raw into salads. The greens are excellent sautéed or simmered as a Southern-style side. Fall-harvested roots store well in a cool, humid place for winter eating.