How to Grow Purple Top White Globe Turnip

Soil, care & harvest

Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 to encourage healthy root development. As a cool-season crop, you should sow seeds directly outdoors two to six weeks before your last expected spring frost, as this variety tolerates light frost well. Press the small seeds into the soil at a depth of about half an inch. You can expect germination to occur within seven to fourteen days depending on temperature and moisture levels.

Space seedlings four to six inches apart in rows that are two feet wide to ensure proper airflow. While turnips do not require trellising, keep the soil consistently moist since dry conditions cause roots to become woody. Apply a layer of mulch around the plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Feed lightly with nitrogen if leaf growth seems slow, but avoid excess fertilizer which encourages bulky leaves over edible roots.

Watch for flea beetles, cabbage root maggots, aphids, and cutworms; row covers or hand-picking can manage these pests effectively. Be vigilant against clubroot, black rot, white rust, and downy mildew by rotating crops and ensuring good drainage. Harvest the roots fifty days after sowing when they reach a pleasing size. Dig carefully to avoid damaging the bulbs, then use immediately or store in cool conditions.