Seven Top Turnip Heirloom Seeds

Seven Top Turnip is an heirloom turnip grown especially for its abundant, tender greens. The upright leaves are mild, richly green, and quick to regrow after cutting, while the small roots stay secondary to the steady supply of delicious tops. Open-pollinated and non-GMO, Seven Top is a practical cool-season crop for spring and fall gardens.

History

Seven Top Turnip has long been valued in Southern gardens as a dependable source of leafy greens through the cool months. Rather than putting its energy into large storage roots, this traditional type keeps producing a full crown of leaves that can be harvested repeatedly. It earns its name by giving the kitchen many useful greens from a compact planting.

Plant Profile

• Days to Maturity: 45–55 days for mature greens, with baby leaves ready earlier
• Root Size: Small and secondary, generally 1–2 inches across
• Plant Size: About 12–18 inches tall and wide
• Plant Type: Cool-season leafy brassica grown as an annual

Flavor Profile

Seven Top Turnip greens have a fresh, savory brassica flavor with a mild peppery edge. Young leaves are tender and bright, while mature greens become more substantial and flavorful after sautéing, braising, or adding to soups. Harvesting in cool weather keeps the flavor pleasantly balanced.

When to Plant

Direct sow Seven Top Turnip in early spring 2–4 weeks before your last spring frost, or sow again in late summer for a fall and winter greens crop. Cool temperatures help the leaves stay tender and slow bolting. Aim for soil temperatures around 50–70°F, and check your USDA Hardiness Zone to fine-tune your planting schedule.

Growing Tips & Planting Dimensions

• Spacing: Thin to 4–6 inches apart, with 12–18 inches between rows.
• Planting Depth: Cover seeds about 1/4 inch deep in fine, loose soil.
• Germination: Usually 5–10 days at 60–70°F.
• Sun: Full sun for the strongest growth, with light afternoon shade in warmer weather.
• Soil: Loose, fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost.
• Water: Keep soil evenly moist for tender leaves and steady regrowth.
• Succession sowing: Sow a short row every 2–3 weeks during cool weather for a continuous supply.
• Healthy plants: Water at soil level, rotate brassica crops, and thin promptly so leaves stay open and productive.

🌱 Gentle Cover Germination 🌱

Into the surface — thin cover only, no light needed.

1. Start with the right foundation. Use a fine seed-starting mix — not garden soil or coarse potting mix. Sift it if needed. Small seeds need a smooth, even surface to make good contact and germinate reliably.
2. Cover lightly — just barely. Press seeds onto the moist surface and cover with no more than 1/8 inch of finely sifted mix. These seeds don’t need light to germinate but they don’t want to be buried either.
3. Mist, don’t drench. Use a spray bottle to keep the surface evenly moist. Watering from above can wash small seeds away before they ever get started.
4. Warmth is your friend. These seeds germinate best at 65–70°F — basically normal room temperature. A heat mat can help if your space runs cool.
5. Trap the humidity. Cover your tray with a humidity dome or a loose piece of plastic wrap. This keeps moisture and warmth stable while you wait.
6. Give them time. Keep conditions consistent, resist the urge to overwater, and trust the process — they will sprout.
7. Thin with scissors, not fingers. Once seedlings appear, snip extras at the soil line rather than pulling. These roots are close together and pulling one can disturb its neighbors.

Seven Top Turnip does not need cold stratification. For direct sowing, keep the seedbed evenly moist until seedlings emerge.

Growth Type & Harvest Yields

Seven Top forms a dense leafy crown and keeps sending up fresh greens after outside leaves are cut. Harvest a few leaves at a time for a steady supply, or cut a larger bunch while leaving the central growing point intact. Its small roots are edible, but the real harvest is the generous top growth.

Knowing When to Harvest

Harvest baby leaves as soon as they are large enough to use, or cut mature greens when they are richly colored, upright, and tender at the stems. Pick from the outside inward and leave the center growing so the plant can regrow. Cool-weather leaves are usually the mildest, and freshly cut greens are best used within a few days.

Companion Plants & Mutual Benefits

• Peas: A cool-season pairing that uses different layers of garden space.
• Onions: Upright neighbors that fit neatly beside low turnip greens.
• Dill: Helps attract beneficial insects to a diverse garden bed.
• Lettuce: A quick, low-growing companion for filling bed edges.
• Beets: Compatible cool-season neighbors with similar moisture needs.

How to Enjoy

• Sauté young greens with garlic, olive oil, and a splash of vinegar.
• Braise mature leaves with onions, beans, or smoked-seasoning flavors.
• Add chopped greens to soups, stews, lentils, and vegetable broths.
• Use tender baby leaves in salads, wraps, and grain bowls.
• Mix cooked greens into eggs, cornbread, pasta, or savory pies.

Order Today

Grow an old-fashioned greens crop that keeps producing tender, savory leaves from a compact cool-season planting. Order Seven Top Turnip Heirloom Seeds today and enjoy a harvest built for the kitchen, not just the root cellar.