Seven Top, Turnip Seeds

Seven Top Turnip Seed

Masses of flavorful greens define this Southern favorite
Repeated cutting extends the harvest across weeks
Tender foliage supplies classic cooked turnip greens
Grow primarily for tops rather than roots

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Brassica rapa

Days to maturity

45 Days

Sun

Full Sun

About Seven Top, Turnip Seed, Turnip Seed

The Seven Top is a tender, round and beautiful white globed turnip variety that produces consistently for a long period! This turnip is the best variety for producing masses of fine-flavored, old-fashioned, turnip greens that makes the ultimate southern staple!

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/4"

Days to Germination

3–10 days

In-row plant spacing

2-4"

Row Spacing

12-18"

Plant profile

Maturity

Spring, Fall

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

18 inches

Growth Habits

Rosette, Upright

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

17,281

Color

Purple

Seed Type

Open Pollinated

Growing Season

Cool-Season Crop

Before Planting

Prepare turnips in full sun with loose, well-drained soil free of stones and undecomposed debris. Break the bed into a fine texture so roots can round out evenly. Avoid fresh manure and heavy nitrogen, using soil-test results to guide amendments.

Planting

Plant turnip seed outdoors in cool weather as soon as the soil can be worked. Keep the seedbed evenly moist and prevent the surface from crusting until seedlings emerge. Because turnip roots are easily disrupted, avoid transplanting. Thin turnips to 2–4 inches apart, using the wider spacing for large-rooted types.

Watering

Maintain consistent moisture around developing turnip roots. Water gently and deeply during dry weather, avoiding both drought stress and sudden heavy irrigation that may split or distort the crop.

Fertilizer

Feed turnip sparingly with a balanced fertilizer when soil fertility is low. Too much nitrogen produces lush tops, delayed roots, and inferior shape or flavor.

Harvesting

Turnip is ready when roots are fully colored, firm, and properly sized. Loosen the bed before pulling, especially for long roots, and harvest young for tenderness or later for storage use.

Tips

Prevent competition by keeping turnip beds weed-free from emergence onward. Avoid compacting the soil, thin before roots crowd, and sample roots regularly so they do not become oversized.

AVG. Seeding Rate

1 oz./320', 3.1 oz./1,000', 5⅔ lb./acre at 35 seeds/ft. in rows 18" apart.

Pests & Diseases

Black rot, clubroot, downy mildew, Alternaria, and white rust affect turnips. Plant clean seed, rotate all brassicas together, and prevent contaminated soil movement. Remove plants with V-shaped lesions or swollen roots. Harvest promptly and store only firm roots without soft spots or internal discoloration.

Turnip may attract cabbageworms, loopers, aphids, flea beetles, and slugs. Inspect frequently, use physical barriers early, and choose targeted biological controls instead of broad-spectrum insecticides.