Forage & Cover Crop Brassica
Purple Top Turnip
A fast-growing turnip producing both leafy forage and a substantial storage root
Purple Top Turnip is a versatile cool-season brassica widely used for forage, grazing and cover-crop applications. Unlike leaf-focused turnips such as Seven Top, Purple Top produces both productive top growth and a substantial edible storage root, allowing livestock to utilize both above- and below-ground forage.
Agronomic Benefits
Why Plant Purple Top Turnip?
Purple Top combines rapid brassica growth with both leafy forage and root production, making it a versatile option for livestock and diversified cover-crop systems.
Dual Forage
Livestock can utilize both the leafy tops and the developed storage roots, providing two sources of forage from the same crop.
Rapid Growth
Turnips establish and develop relatively quickly, making them useful where the available cool-season planting window is limited.
Root Biomass
Purple Top develops a substantial storage root, contributing below-ground biomass along with the leafy canopy above the soil surface.
Cover Crop Value
Turnips can contribute living roots, nutrient scavenging, ground cover and additional crop-family diversity in cover-crop mixtures.
Where It Fits
Best Uses for Purple Top Turnip
Purple Top is particularly useful where both forage production and brassica diversity are desired. Its combination of top growth and root development gives it a broader role than leaf-only turnip varieties.
Establishment & Management
Planting Purple Top Turnip
Purple Top is a small-seeded brassica that performs best with shallow placement, good seed-to-soil contact and adequate moisture during establishment.
Planting Depth
A planting depth of approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch is appropriate for drilled turnip seed. Avoid planting small brassica seed excessively deep.
Seedbed & Moisture
A firm seedbed and good seed-to-soil contact help support uniform emergence. Adequate moisture during germination and early growth is important for rapid stand development.
Grazing Timing
Turnip tops can become available for grazing before the storage roots reach full development. Allow the crop adequate establishment before introducing livestock and manage grazing to utilize the stand efficiently.
Mixture Design
Because turnips establish rapidly, use an appropriate proportion in multi-species mixtures so they complement rather than overwhelm slower-establishing grasses, cereals or legumes.
Variety Distinction
Purple Top Produces Both Tops & Roots
Purple Top should not be confused with leafy turnip types such as Seven Top. Purple Top develops a substantial rounded storage root in addition to its leafy canopy, making both portions of the plant available for forage and giving it a true dual-purpose growth habit.
Looking for Purple Top Turnip Seed?
Contact Weaver Seed for current availability, quantities, packaging or help incorporating Purple Top Turnip into a forage, grazing, wildlife or custom cover-crop mixture.
Contact Weaver Seed