Turnip Purple Top Milan

Turnip Purple Top Milan: variety and characteristics

Turnip Purple Top Milan (Brassica rapa) is an annual vegetable of the Cabbage family (Brassicaceae). A classic Italian variety. A purple-and-white turnip with the top two thirds purple, harvested from summer to autumn from successive sowings. The flesh is pure white, crisp, sweet and tasty. Turnips should be grown quickly and watered well. Harvest them before they get too big for the best flavour. They can be eaten fresh or boiled, roasted, steamed or puréed. Sow seeds outdoors in deep, fertile but firm soil that is not too acidic. If space is limited, start the seeds in modules or seed trays and plant them out when they are large enough to handle easily (about 5 or 6 leaves). Watering during the summer months is very important. Thin the seedlings to 10-15 cm. apart.

Turnip is a fast-growing, cold-hardy root vegetable with a mild, slightly spicy flavour – for salads, soups and stews.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 98%
• Pack size: 4 g
• Seed origin: Italy
• Sowing: March – June; direct
• Harvest: June – October
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Turnip Purple Top Milan

Turnip Purple Top Milan seeds are sown in March – June. Harvest in June – October. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Turnip Purple Top Milan

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 1–2 cm
• Spacing: 10–15 cm in the row, 30 cm between rows
• Germination: 4–7 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Sow in early spring or late summer; thin the emerged plants and water evenly.

Harvest and use

Pick the roots young, at 5–8 cm — they are most tender then.

Frequently asked questions

When should Turnip Purple Top Milan be sown?

The recommended months for sowing are March – June. Sowing method: direct.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 98%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.