How to Grow Turnip 'Seven Top'
Wikimedia Commons
Turnip 'Seven Top'
Brassica rapa subsp. rapa
vegetableSeven Top is a distinctive turnip variety prized primarily for its abundant, tender leafy greens rather than its small roots. This cool-season crop produces an impressive volume of deeply lobed, nutritious foliage that can be harvested repeatedly throughout the growing season. The variety is extremely cold-hardy and prolific, making it ideal for fall and winter gardening.
When should you plant Turnip 'Seven Top' in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Turnip 'Seven Top' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Turnip 'Seven Top'
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Turnip 'Seven Top'
Around May 17≈ 30 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Turnip 'Seven Top' dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 2-9; excellent cool-season crop for fall and winter harvests
Sign up free to see if Turnip 'Seven Top' grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Turnip 'Seven Top' timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
7-10 daysTiny seedlings emerge with two cotyledons (seed leaves) and develop their first true leaves with characteristic lobed shape.
Keep soil consistently moist. Thin seedlings to proper spacing once they have 2-3 true leaves. Protect from strong winds and excessive heat.
Leaf Development
2-3 weeksRapid production of deeply lobed, dark green foliage. Plants focus energy on leaf expansion rather than root development.
Begin harvesting outer leaves once plants reach 6-8 inches tall. This encourages bushier growth and more leaf production. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced or nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
Vegetative Growth
2-4 weeksVigorous leaf production with progressively larger and more numerous lobed leaves. Root development remains minimal.
Continue harvesting outer leaves regularly for continuous production. Provide consistent moisture and cool temperatures. Maintain adequate spacing to improve air circulation.
Peak Harvest
3-6 weeksPlants are fully bushy with abundant tender greens at their nutritional and flavor peak. Roots remain small but edible.
Harvest leaves regularly to maintain tenderness and encourage more production. Cut or pinch outer leaves from the base. Can tolerate light frosts and actually improve in flavor after exposure to cold.
Late Season & Storage
4-8 weeks or until frostContinued leaf production throughout fall and into winter in cold climates. Greens become more tender and sweeter after frost.
Plant can be harvested until hard freezes occur. In mild climates, may overwinter. Small roots can be harvested anytime after 60 days if desired.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Use row covers on young plants, spray with neem oil, encourage beneficial insects, dust with diatomaceous earth
-
Apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), use row covers, hand-pick caterpillars, encourage parasitic wasps
-
Spray with strong water stream, use insecticidal soap, introduce ladybugs, apply neem oil
-
Rotate crops, avoid planting brassicas in infected soil for 5+ years, ensure good drainage, lime acidic soils
-
Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply sulfur dust or fungicide, remove infected leaves
Uses
Nutritious Cooking Greens
CulinarySeven Top leaves are tender, slightly peppery, and nutritious when cooked like collards, kale, or spinach. They can be added to soups, sautéed, steamed, or braised. [source]
Fresh Salad Greens
CulinaryYoung, tender leaves can be used raw in salads, providing a mild peppery flavor and interesting lobed texture. [source]
Southern & Traditional Cuisine
CulinaryA staple in Southern cooking and soul food traditions, often served with seasoned broth and paired with cornbread. [source]
Nutritional & Antioxidant Content
MedicinalRich in vitamins A, C, and K, plus glucosinolates and other cruciferous compounds with potential anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties. [source]
Beneficial Insect Support
WildlifeFlowers (if allowed to bolt) provide pollen and nectar for beneficial insects, pollinators, and native bees. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Begin harvesting outer leaves when plants reach 6-8 inches in height by cutting or pinching them from the base. Harvest regularly every 7-10 days to encourage continuous production of tender new growth. The entire leafy crown can be harvested at once for larger yields, or pick individual outer leaves for extended harvests. Leaves are most tender and flavorful when young and after cool weather or light frosts. Small turnip roots can be harvested anytime after 60 days, but Seven Top is grown primarily for greens. Harvest in the morning after dew dries for best quality.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Seven Top earned its name because it produces at least seven harvestable leaves per plant in cool conditions, making it exceptionally productive for greens compared to other turnip varieties.
- 🌱 This variety is extremely cold-hardy and actually becomes sweeter and more tender after light frosts, as the plant converts starches to sugars as a cold-weather survival mechanism.
- 🌱 Turnip greens have been cultivated for thousands of years and were more valued historically than the roots themselves in many cultures, particularly in Asia and Mediterranean regions.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Turnip 'Seven Top' planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Turnip 'Seven Top' seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Turnip 'Seven Top' timeline →