Turnip Purple Top Milan Seeds

The Turnip Purple Top Milan boasts a striking contrast with its smooth white bulbs and a bright purple top. Its flat-shaped roots and light purple with white hue embodies a classic turnip look while adding a touch of elegance to the garden bed.

The fine-grained, pure white flesh of the Turnip Purple Top Milan is hard and solid, offering a traditional turnip taste. They can be harvested young at the size of a radish for a tender, mild flavour or allowed to mature up to tennis ball size for a fuller flavour. The baby-veg can be roasted with a sprinkle of olive oil, salt, and herbs, or cut into smaller pieces when mature. Moreover, the leaves can be harvested and used as greens, offering a nutritious alternative to spinach.

With a growth cycle from March to November, this turnip variety offers a prolonged harvest period when sown in succession. Its fast maturation is ideal for early start under cloches and can be sown continuously from spring through autumn ensuring a steady supply. The thinnings from the crop can be used as mini-veg, providing additional yield.

This turnip variety exhibits a flat-rooted growth, ideal for both root and leaf harvest. Its ability to be forced for an early crop or sown later for an autumn harvest provides flexibility in cultivation.

Thriving in a moist, fertile but shady spot, Turnip Purple Top Milan adapts well to UK growing conditions. It requires a minimum temperature of 10°C for germination, with February sowings needing cloche protection. It appreciates a well-prepared growing site, with added lime if necessary, and regular watering to prevent woodiness in the roots.

Its longstanding popularity since the 1888 introduction showcases the reliability of Turnip Purple Top Milan. Protection from common pests like cabbage root fly and flea beetle may be required, but its hardy nature and adaptability to UK climates make it a reliable choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.

Sowing can be done from February to June, with early sowings benefitting from cloche protection. The growing site should be well-prepared, and sown in shallow rows with a spacing of 25cm between rows. Regular watering is essential, especially during dry spells, to ensure a good yield and prevent woodiness or splitting of the roots.