Description

A Heritage of Resilience

Purple Top Turnip Seeds

A Canadian heritage variety with centuries of proven resilience. Purple Top turnip produces sweet, crisp roots with distinctive, purple-blushed shoulders and creamy white flesh. Remarkably cold-tolerant with swift maturity, this heirloom sustained generations of settlers and farmers across the prairies through harsh winters and short growing seasons.

Heritage: Brought to Canada by early settlers in the 1700s-1800s, this variety became a cornerstone of survival in northern territories. Selected generation after generation for vigour, flavour, and reliability, Purple Top is woven into Canadian agricultural history, a testament to the quiet determination of those who cultivated our soil.

Days to Maturity: 45-60 days from direct seeding

Planting Season: Early spring (as soon as soil can be worked) or late summer for fall harvest. Turnips thrive in cool weather and can tolerate light frosts, making them ideal for Canadian climates.

Soil Preparation: Purple Top turnips prefer loose, well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Work compost into your bed and ensure a pH of 6.0-7.5. Remove rocks and break up clumps to allow roots to develop their characteristic round shape.

Sowing Instructions:  Direct sow seeds ½ inch deep, spacing seeds 2-3 inches apart in rows 12-18 inches apart. Turnip seeds are small but mighty. Handle them with the same care your ancestors did. Thin seedlings to 4-6 inches apart once they reach 2-3 inches tall. The thinned greens are delicious in salads.

Sun & Water: Full sun to partial shade (6+ hours of sunlight ideal). Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Irregular watering can cause roots to crack or become woody. Mulch around plants to retain moisture and keep roots cool.

Care & Maintenance: Turnips are relatively low-maintenance. Watch for flea beetles on young seedlings. Row covers provide excellent protection. Side-dress with compost midway through growth if needed, though turnips aren’t heavy feeders.

Harvest: Begin harvesting when roots reach 2-3 inches in diameter for the sweetest, most tender flavour. Larger roots (up to 4-5 inches) are still excellent but may be slightly more pungent. The purple crown will be visible above the soil line when ready. Harvest before hard freezes, though light frosts can actually improve flavour by converting starches into sugars.

Culinary Notes: The entire plant is edible. Young greens are peppery and nutritious, perfect for sautéing or adding to soups. The roots can be enjoyed raw (sliced thin for salads), roasted, mashed, added to stews, or stored in a cool root cellar for months.. just as your great-grandparents did.

Hardiness Zones: 2-9 (thrives across all Canadian growing zones)

Seed Saving: Allow a few plants to overwinter (or replant roots in spring). They’ll send up tall flower stalks producing seed pods. Collect when dry and brown. These seeds carry forward the legacy of resilience.

Learn the incredible history of the Purple Top Summer Turnip