Eventual height & spread
turnip 'Sweetbell' F1
turnip or Brassica rapa (Rapifera Group) 'Sweet Bell' F1
- approx 250 seeds
- £2.79
- In stock (shipped within 2-3 working days)
Delivery options
- Seed Packets (only) £2.99
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: slow
- Hardiness: fully hardy
With an exceptionally sweet white flesh, that has a firm, crisp texture, this purple-shouldered globe type turnip is ideal for stir-fries and stews, or could be grated and eaten raw in salads. Even the leaves are edible, and if cooked as you would spinach, they make a tasty side dish.
Give turnips a sunny, open spot with light, well-drained soil and keep the soil evenly moist so they grow quickly and stay tender. Water regularly in dry spells, as stop-start growth can make them woody.
Feed lightly with a balanced fertiliser if the soil is poor, and keep the area weed-free so they’re not competing for space. Harvest small roots when they’re about golf- to tennis-ball size for the best flavour, pulling them gently from the soil, and pick the leaves young if you want to use them as greens.
Feed lightly with a balanced fertiliser if the soil is poor, and keep the area weed-free so they’re not competing for space. Harvest small roots when they’re about golf- to tennis-ball size for the best flavour, pulling them gently from the soil, and pick the leaves young if you want to use them as greens.
Choose a sheltered, sunny spot with good rich soil and sow direct where they are to grow in shallow drills, approximately 30cm (12in) apart. Thin the seedlings to about 15cm (6in) apart when large enough to handle. Protect earlier sowings with cloches and keep well watered through dry spells to avoid them turning woody. Sowing a small amount every three or four weeks will keep the crop coming continuously right through the season. Sow a late crop in August to grow it for the foliage. These can be sown close together in rows and then snip the leaves when they reach about 10cm high.
