Turnip

Brassica rapa

Gold Ball is a heritage turnip producing smooth, rounded roots with golden-yellow skin and golden-yellow flesh. The roots can reach around 10–12 cm across, although they are generally at their sweetest and most tender when harvested closer to 8 cm. The flesh is fine-textured with a mild, sweet, slightly nutty flavour.

This is a genuinely old variety. It was recorded in the French Album Vilmorin of 1854–55 as Robertson’s Golden Ball and was also known as Orange Jelly. Late 19th-century seed catalogues specifically classified it among the yellow-fleshed turnips and praised it as a fine table variety.

Excellent roasted, simmered, mashed or added to soups and stews, Gold Ball is also a good keeper. The young leafy tops are edible and can be harvested for salads or cooked as greens.

Seed count: approximately 400–500 seeds per gram. Approximately 200 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: March–September
Subtropics: August–May
Mild climates: September–April
Cold climates: September–April

Planting / Sowing

Direct sow approximately 1 cm deep into fertile, friable, well-drained soil. Thin seedlings to approximately 12–20 cm apart with 30–50 cm between rows. Maintain consistent moisture as the roots develop for the best texture and flavour.

Maturity: approximately 44–65 days.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Brassica rapa 

Italian Cabbage is an unusual old European turnip grown for its very large roots and exceptionally tender flesh. Despite its somewhat rustic appearance, the root has a buttery, mild flavour and remains tender rather than becoming coarse or woody as it grows. Young roots can be sliced and eaten raw as well as roasted, steamed, mashed or added to soups and stews.

This is a very old turnip type with a long history in European cultivation. Despite the name “Italian Cabbage”, it is a turnip rather than a true cabbage or swede. The leafy tops are also edible and can be harvested young for salads or cooked as greens.

A vigorous and forgiving variety, Italian Cabbage can be allowed to grow considerably larger than most table turnips without sacrificing eating quality. It is adaptable across a broad range of conditions and can be grown through much of the year where temperatures are suitable.

Seed count: approximately 400–500 seeds per gram. Approximately 180 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: March–September
Subtropics: February–October
Mild climates: February–November
Cold climates: August–May

Planting / Sowing

Direct sow approximately 5–10 mm deep into fertile, friable, well-drained soil. Thin seedlings to approximately 15–20 cm apart to allow the large roots room to develop, with 30–40 cm between rows. Maintain consistent moisture for the most tender roots.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Brassica rapa var. rapifera

Japanese Turnip, also known as Tokyo Market, is a fast-growing turnip producing smooth, pearly white roots approximately 7–10 cm across. The slightly flattened globe-shaped roots have crisp, juicy white flesh with a mild, delicate flavour, particularly when harvested young.

The tender roots are excellent as a baby vegetable and can be eaten raw, where their flavour is considerably milder than most radishes. They are equally good steamed, stir-fried, roasted or pickled. The young leafy tops are also edible, with a gentle mustard flavour that works particularly well steamed or in stir-fries.

Hardy, quick and easy to grow, Tokyo Market performs well across a broad range of climates and is ideal for successive sowings. Harvest young for the sweetest, most tender roots and maintain consistent moisture to encourage rapid growth and smooth, crisp roots.

Seed count: approximately 120 seeds per gram. Approximately 100 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: March–August
Subtropics: February–September
Mild climates: February–November
Cold climates: August–May

Planting / Sowing

Direct sow approximately 5–10 mm deep into fertile, friable, well-drained soil. Thin seedlings to approximately 7–10 cm apart with 25–30 cm between rows. For baby turnips, plants can be spaced more closely and harvested young. Maintain consistent moisture for rapid growth and the best texture.

Maturity: approximately 30–40 days.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Brassica rapa

Purple Top Milan is an early maturing heirloom turnip producing smooth, flattened white roots with attractive purple shoulders. The crisp, tender flesh has a mild, sweet flavour, making it ideal for steaming, roasting, mashing or adding fresh to salads when harvested young. Fast growing and reliable, this variety is an excellent choice for succession sowing and is ready to harvest in as little as 30–35 days. The young green tops are also delicious cooked like spinach.

Approximately 250–350 seeds per gram
Approximately 200 seeds per packet

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: April to August
Subtropics: March to September
Mild climates: February to October
Cold climates: Spring to autumn

Planting / Sowing

Direct sow seed 5–10 mm deep into well-prepared soil in a sunny position. Thin seedlings to 10–15 cm apart, allowing 25–30 cm between rows. Keep soil evenly moist to encourage rapid, even growth and prevent woody roots. Harvest young for the sweetest flavour or allow roots to mature while still tender. Young leaves may also be picked for cooking.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Brassica rapa

Purple Top White Globe is Australia's classic heirloom turnip, introduced in the late nineteenth century and still one of the country's most popular varieties. It produces large, round roots with creamy white, fine-grained flesh and distinctive purple shoulders. The flavour is sweet and mild with an excellent texture, making it ideal for roasting, mashing, soups, stews and steaming. Slow to bolt and an excellent keeper, this reliable variety stores well after harvest and matures in 45–65 days. The nutritious young tops can also be harvested and cooked as leafy greens.

Approximately 250–350 seeds per gram
Approximately 200 seeds per packet

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: April to August
Subtropics: March to September
Mild climates: February to October
Cold climates: Spring to autumn

Planting / Sowing

Direct sow seed 5–10 mm deep into well-prepared soil in a sunny position. Thin seedlings to 10–15 cm apart, allowing 25–30 cm between rows. Keep the soil evenly moist to encourage rapid, even growth and prevent woody roots. Harvest roots from 45–65 days while still tender, or leave them to reach full size for storage. The young leaves may also be picked and cooked like spinach.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Brassica rapa

Purple Top White Globe is Australia's classic heirloom turnip, introduced in the late nineteenth century and still one of the country's most popular varieties. It produces large, round roots with creamy white, fine-grained flesh and distinctive purple shoulders. The flavour is sweet and mild with an excellent texture, making it ideal for roasting, mashing, soups, stews and steaming. Slow to bolt and an excellent keeper, this reliable variety stores well after harvest and matures in 45–65 days. The nutritious young tops can also be harvested and cooked as leafy greens.

Approximately 250–350 seeds per gram
Approximately 200 seeds per packet

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: April to August
Subtropics: March to September
Mild climates: February to October
Cold climates: Spring to autumn

Planting / Sowing

Direct sow seed 5–10 mm deep into well-prepared soil in a sunny position. Thin seedlings to 10–15 cm apart, allowing 25–30 cm between rows. Keep the soil evenly moist to encourage rapid, even growth and prevent woody roots. Harvest roots from 45–65 days while still tender, or leave them to reach full size for storage. The young leaves may also be picked and cooked like spinach.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Brassica rapa

Snowball, also known as White Egg, is an old standard turnip producing smooth, pure white roots with crisp, tender flesh. The rounded to slightly egg-shaped roots are best harvested at around 9 cm across, while the flesh is still particularly sweet, mild and succulent.

A longstanding garden variety, Snowball has been valued for its quick growth, dependable cropping and delicate flavour. The roots are versatile in the kitchen and can be eaten raw when young or steamed, roasted, mashed, pickled or added to soups and stews. The young leafy tops are also edible and can be cooked as greens.

Best grown through the cooler parts of the year, Snowball is particularly suited to autumn and spring sowings. Rapid, uninterrupted growth and consistent moisture help produce the smoothest roots and prevent the flesh becoming coarse or strongly flavoured.

Seed count: approximately 400–500 seeds per gram. Approximately 300 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: March–August
Subtropics: February–September
Mild climates: February–November
Cold climates: August–May

Planting / Sowing

Direct sow approximately 5–10 mm deep into fertile, friable, well-drained soil. Thin seedlings to approximately 8–12 cm apart with 25–30 cm between rows. Maintain consistent moisture as the roots develop and harvest at around 9 cm across for the best texture and flavour.

Maturity: approximately 40–55 days.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.