Key Features
- Seven Top turnip variety grown primarily for its tender, flavorful leafy greens.
- Produces abundant green foliage without developing a prominent edible root.
- Upright plants are well suited to vegetable gardens, raised beds, and containers.
- Tender young leaves can be harvested for fresh salads or cooked dishes.
- A useful cool-season crop for gardeners seeking productive leafy vegetables.
Growing Benefits
- Enjoy fresh leafy greens grown directly in your home garden.
- Suitable for succession sowing to support repeated harvests.
- Performs well during cool growing conditions.
- Compact growth makes it practical for smaller garden spaces.
- Provides an easy vegetable crop for beginner gardeners.
Seed Specifications
- Common Name: Seven Top Turnip
- Botanical Name: Brassica rapa subsp. rapa
- Plant Type: Cool-season annual vegetable
- Colors: Green leaves; white turnip roots are small and not the primary harvest
- Height: Approximately twelve to eighteen inches
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Fertile, well-draining soil rich in organic matter
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged
- Germination Time: Approximately three to ten days
- Sowing Depth: About one-quarter inch deep
- Spacing: Thin plants to approximately four to six inches apart
- Growing Zones: Generally suitable for USDA Zones two through eleven, depending on seasonal conditions
- Flowering/Maturity: Leaves can be harvested young; mature greens are typically ready within several weeks
- Uses: Fresh salads, cooked greens, soups, stews, and vegetable dishes
Four Growing Tips
- Sow seeds directly into prepared garden soil rather than starting indoors.
- Keep the seedbed evenly moist until seedlings emerge.
- Thin crowded seedlings early to encourage healthy leafy growth.
- Harvest outer leaves regularly while they are young and tender.
Seed Storage
Store unused seeds in a cool, dry, dark location away from moisture and heat. Keep them in a tightly sealed seed packet or airtight container and label the container with the variety and storage date.
Unique Facts About Seeds
- Seven Top is known mainly for its leafy greens rather than its roots.
- Turnips belong to the Brassicaceae family, which also includes cabbage, kale, and broccoli.
- Turnip greens are commonly harvested while young for a more tender texture.
- Turnips are cool-season crops and can tolerate light frost better than many warm-season vegetables.
