Turnip Varieties Explained: Types of Turnips, Colors, and How They Differ
Turnips are fast-growing root vegetables with edible roots and leaves. They belong to the Brassica family, along with cabbage, kale, radishes, and broccoli. True turnips are forms of turnip (Brassica rapa).
There are many turnip varieties, and they do not all look or taste the same. Some have white skin and white flesh. Others have purple shoulders or rich yellow flesh. A few are mild enough to be eaten raw, while larger types are better roasted with olive oil or added to soups.
Understanding the main types of turnips will help you choose the right seed for your garden and kitchen.
What Does a Turnip Look Like?
Gardeners often ask, what does a turnip look like and what color are turnips? Most turnips form a round or slightly flat root below the soil. The usual turnip color is white, sometimes with a purple, red, green, or golden top. The top changes color where sunlight reaches the root.
The color of turnips also varies inside. Most true turnips have white flesh, but golden cultivars have yellow flesh. Their leafy tops are called turnip greens, and both the roots and leaves are edible. When shopping at grocery stores, choose turnips that feel firm and heavy for their size. Smaller roots are often milder and more tender.
Popular Turnip Types
Purple-Top Turnips
The purple top type is one of the most familiar in the United States and across North America. Its upper shoulder is purple, while the lower root and flesh remain white.
Purple Top White Globe Turnip Seeds produce smooth, round roots with crisp flesh and mild sweetness. This classic variety works well for roasting, stews, and storage.
White Turnips
Small white turnips, including Japanese market types, usually have a mild, juicy flavor. Many can be sliced into salads as raw turnips, pickled, sautéed, or cooked whole.
Tokyo Market Turnip Seeds produce an heirloom Japanese turnip with sweet, mild roots and edible greens. It is a useful choice for gardeners who enjoy fresh eating.
Golden and Yellow Turnips
Golden turnips have warm yellow skin or flesh. Organic Golden Globe Turnip produces tender roots with mild, deep golden-yellow flesh and good keeping quality.
The search phrases yellow turnip vs white turnip and white turnip vs yellow turnip can be confusing. In some places, “yellow turnip” means rutabaga. However, rutabagas and turnips are different crops. Turnips are Brassica rapa, while rutabagas are Brassica napus. Rutabagas are usually denser, larger, and yellow-fleshed.
Turnips for Roots and Greens
Some different varieties of turnips are grown for both roots and tops. Fort Umpqua Turnip Seeds produce smooth, mild roots and tender greens. They perform best during the cool spring or fall growing season.
Choosing the Best Turnip Varieties
The best turnip varieties depend on how you plan to use them:
- Choose Tokyo Market for small, sweet roots that can be eaten raw.
- Choose Purple Top White Globe for an all-purpose cooking and storage turnip.
- Choose Golden Globe for yellow flesh and strong keeping quality.
- Choose Fort Umpqua when you want both roots and turnip greens.
These are only a few turnip types. Seed catalogs offer many different types of turnip, including flat, round, purple, red, white, and gold cultivars. Early types are often harvested in summer, while main-crop types are grown for fall and winter use.
Browse Grow Organic's full selection of turnip seeds when comparing different varieties of turnips. You can also learn why turnips suit cool-season vegetable gardens and use the November Gardening Checklist for seasonal planting growing tasks.
When to Harvest Different Turnips
Turnips taste best when they grow quickly in cool conditions and are harvested before they become oversized. Small salad types are ready sooner than larger storage varieties. Check the maturity days on the seed packet, then inspect the exposed shoulder of the root.
Most roots are tender when they reach about 2 to 3 inches wide. Harvesting on time protects their mild flavor and crisp texture.
Conclusion
There are many turnips types, but choosing one does not need to be difficult. Match the variety of turnips to your plans. Grow white Japanese turnips for salads, Purple Top for dependable cooking, Golden Globe for color, or Fort Umpqua for roots and greens.
