How to Grow Scarlet Queen Turnip
Brassica rapa
Scarlet Queen Turnip is a fast-growing root vegetable prized for its vibrant color and mild flavor. Gardeners cultivate this cool-season Brassica rapa variety to enjoy fresh greens or tender roots in spring and fall gardens.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Scarlet Queen Turnip: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Scarlet Queen Turnip is not usually started indoors.
This variety is best planted directly into the garden rather than started indoors as seedlings.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. As a cool-season crop, sow seeds directly outdoors two to six weeks before your last expected frost date. Press the tiny seeds lightly into the soil at a depth of about one-quarter inch. Germination typically occurs within four to seven days once conditions are right.
Space seedlings three to four inches apart to allow proper root development without overcrowding. These plants do not require trellising or support structures as they grow primarily underground. Maintain consistent moisture levels by watering regularly, especially during dry spells. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Watch for flea beetles, aphids, root maggots, and cabbage worms; use row covers or organic sprays if infestations occur. Clubroot, black rot, and downy mildew can also affect the crop, so ensure good air circulation and avoid overwatering. Harvest roots when they reach maturity in about 37 days from sowing by gently pulling them from the soil.
When to Plant Scarlet Queen Turnip
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | June – July | July – September |
| Zone 2 | — | May – July | June – September |
| Zone 3 | — | May – June | June – October |
| Zone 4 | — | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 6 | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | — | March – May | April – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | — | January – March | February – December |
| Zone 11 | — | January – February | January – December |
| Zone 12 | — | January – February | January – December |
| Zone 13 | — | January – February | January – December |
Companion Plants for Scarlet Queen Turnip
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids and root flies while improving turnip flavor
Deters root maggots and aphids while improving soil health
Shallow roots don't compete with turnips and provides living mulch
Repels flea beetles and cabbage worms that damage turnip leaves
Acts as trap crop for aphids and flea beetles that commonly attack turnips
Fix nitrogen in soil benefiting turnip growth and have different harvest timing
Helps break up soil for turnip root development and deters flea beetles
Compatible growing requirements and helps maximize garden space utilization
✗ Keep away from
Hosts clubroot disease that can devastate turnip crops
Attracts same pests like flea beetles and competes for similar soil nutrients
Allelopathic compounds inhibit germination and growth of brassica family plants
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
