Turnip ‘Red Rooster’ is a bright, cheerful variety that adds both colour and flavour to the vegetable garden. Known for its striking deep red skin and crisp white flesh, this turnip is as pretty as it is productive. It’s fast-growing, sweet, and tender — ideal for both fresh eating and cooking. Originally bred from traditional European turnip varieties, ‘Red Rooster’ has been selected for its reliable growth and excellent flavour, making it a popular choice for home gardeners.

Turnips are exceptionally healthy root vegetables, rich in vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and fibre, while being low in calories. The leaves are also edible and packed with vitamin K and folate, making them great in stir-fries or steamed as greens. The roots of ‘Red Rooster’ are mild and slightly sweet, with a pleasant crunch when young. They can be eaten raw in salads, roasted, mashed, or added to soups and stews.

This variety is prized for its versatility and vibrant appearance. The roots hold their colour well when cooked, making them a beautiful addition to the dinner table. Because they grow quickly, they are also perfect for succession planting — providing a steady harvest over many months. The leaves can be harvested as baby greens before the roots mature for dual-purpose use.

How it Grows
Turnip ‘Red Rooster’ is a cool-season crop that grows best in spring and autumn. It thrives in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil, forming smooth, round roots with vivid red skins and crisp white interiors. It matures in around 45–55 days, making it one of the faster vegetables to grow. Consistent moisture helps produce tender roots with excellent flavour.

How to Grow From Seed:

Sow seeds directly where they are to grow, as turnips dislike transplanting.

Plant seeds about 1 cm deep and 2–3 cm apart in rows spaced 25–30 cm apart.

Keep the soil moist until germination, which usually occurs within 5–10 days.

Thin seedlings to 10 cm apart once established.

For continuous harvests, sow every 2–3 weeks.

Harvest baby turnips when small and tender, or allow them to grow larger for a stronger flavour.

The leaves can be picked young for fresh greens.