One of the earliest purple turnip varieties, these heirloom vegetable seeds produce distinctive flat roots with striking purple tops and creamy white undersides, and they taste as good as they look. Early Purple is known for its mild, sweet flavour – enjoy your turnips mashed, roasted, stewed or even cold in salads. The tender, leafy tops are also edible and are packed full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Quick to mature, the Early Purple turnip is a perfect ‘catch crop’ for making use of space between slower-growing vegetables. This variety can be grown year-round in most Australian climates but does best in cooler weather during spring and autumn. Lift when young for a sweeter flavour and tender texture to enjoy raw, or leave them to mature for larger roots suitable for cooking.

Pair these turnip seeds with carrot seeds or radish seedsfor a productive and varied garden. Or, browse full vegetable seeds range to discover even more easy-to-grow favourites for your home garden!

How to Sow Seeds

Method: Sow Early Purple turnip seeds in summer and autumn to harvest in winter and spring.
Depth: Sow them 1.5cm (½ in) deep in well-prepared soil, spacing the rows 40cm (15 in) apart.
Thinning: Once seedlings appear, thin them out to 15cm (6 in) apart to give them room to grow.
Growing notes: Keep the plants well-watered in dry weather. If frost is imminent, protect the seedlings with cloches or fleece to prevent damage. Harvest the turnips when they reach a good size, typically around 6-8 weeks after sowing, for the best flavour and tenderness.

Plant Characteristics

Yield: Productive
Harvest: Sow Early Purple turnip seeds in summer and autumn to harvest in winter and spring
Maturity: Harvest the turnips when they reach a good size, typically around 6-8 weeks after sowing, for the best flavour and tenderness
Uses: Early Purple is known for its mild, sweet flavour – enjoy your turnips mashed, roasted, stewed or even cold in salads