How to Grow Tokyo Cross Turnip
Brassica rapa 'Tokyo Cross'
Tokyo Cross Turnip is a fast-growing root vegetable prized for its mild flavor and tender texture. Gardeners favor this cool-season crop because it matures quickly in just a few weeks, offering a reliable harvest before summer heat sets in.
📷 Wikipedia: Brassica rapaStarting Tokyo Cross Turnip: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Tokyo Cross Turnip is not usually started indoors.
This variety is best direct-sown outdoors rather than transplanted, though seedlings can be moved carefully if necessary within the two-to-six-week window before frost.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 to encourage healthy root development. Since this is a cool-season crop, sow seeds directly outdoors or start indoors two to six weeks before your last spring frost. Push seeds down about one-quarter inch deep into the earth. Expect germination within four to eight days once conditions are right.
Space seedlings three to four inches apart to allow roots room to expand without crowding. While turnips do not require trellising, keep soil consistently moist as they demand high water levels. Apply a light mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Feed sparingly if growth seems stunted by mid-season.
Watch for flea beetles, aphids, and cabbage root maggots; row covers can deter pests early on. Monitor for clubroot, black rot, and white rust, ensuring good air circulation to prevent fungal issues. Harvest roots thirty-five to forty days after sowing when they reach a desirable size by gently pulling them from the soil.
When to Plant Tokyo Cross 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 Tokyo Cross Turnip
✓ Good companions
Different root depths prevent competition and improve soil structure
Natural fungicide properties protect against soil-borne diseases
Shallow roots don't compete and provide living mulch
Repel nematodes and other soil pests that damage turnip roots
Repel root maggots and aphids that commonly attack turnips
Fix nitrogen in soil and turnips benefit from increased nitrogen availability
Break up soil for turnip root development and deter flea beetles
Cool-season companion with similar growing requirements
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth of most vegetables including turnips
Fellow brassica competes for nutrients and attracts cabbage worms
Same family (Brassicaceae) attracts similar pests like flea beetles and clubroot
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
