Grow a garden thats filled with Purple Top White Globe Turnip roots, from freshly harvested Brassica rapa seeds. Purple Top White Globe is a heirloom variety of Turnip, which produces 4 to 6 inch roots. For obvious reasons, Purple top gets its named from its appearance. The top of its roots are a dull purple, while the rest of the root is a creamy white color. Each Turnip plant will reach a mature height of roughly 12 to 15 inches tall. Both the roots and the leaves can be used from this variety. Purple top White Globe is considered to be an annual crop. Annuals such as this will establish and grow quickly from freshly harvested seeds. The plants produce edible roots and leaves, and if allowed to bolt, they will produce fresh seeds for the following season as well. Purple Top White Globe will be ready for harvesting in roughly 55 days. Sowing The Seed Turnips are best established directly outdoors in cooler temperatures. Having said this, you should consider sowing your Turnips directly in the garden, in the early weeks of Spring, after all danger of frost has passed. Clear the sowing area of all unwanted plant life, by tilling the soil. Create rows, sowing each seed at a depth of 1/4" under the topsoil. You can also follow these same steps for sowing in early Autumn when the temperature begins to drop. Growing Conditions Turnips will require an area of full sunlight for the majority of the day. Again, they thrive best in cooler temperatures of around 50F to 60F. The soil should be fertile and rich in organic matter, with a pH level at around 6 to 6.5. You will also want to make sure that the sowing medium is loose and free of rocks, pebbles and other debris. If your sowing area consists of hard, compact soil, you might consider adding a light compost to increase drainage. Water the soil daily to provide ample moisture, however be careful not to overwater as this can cause crop failures. Germination & Growth Turnip seeds typically take anywhere between 5 and 10 days to germinate successfully. The plants will form roots, much like that of a carrot or radish. The tops will grow to a mature height of about 12 to 15 inches tall. Each Turnip plant can be spaced about 3 inches apart from one another, in rows spaced about 1 foot apart. Both the roots and the leafy greens are edible for this variety. Harvesting Purple Top White Globe Turnips The first step to harvesting your Purple Top Turnips is to make sure that they are ready. Check the base of your plant to see if the top of its root is visible. If it is round and smooth, they can be plucked. Loosen the soil and place your hand at the base of the plant, where the stem meets the root. Give it a firm tug, removing it from the earth. Separate the roots and tops, rinsing both parts prior to consuming. Check below to learn about storage. To store, set your roots in a shady and dry place to allow the dirt to dry. Dust off any dirt later on, storing your Turnips in a cool and dry location. Turnips typically have a shelf life of a few weeks, while its tops only last a few days. You can prolong this period of storage by placing them in sawdust or sand within a cool cellar.