Turnip Cultivation In India; A Complete Information Guide

July 8, 2025 Agrovista 10 min read

Turnip or white turnip (Brassica rapa L. Family) belongs to the family Cruciferae. It is a popular root vegetable in temperate climates and is grown as a winter vegetable in the North-Western states of India. Small, tender varieties are used as salad, cooked, or pickled. Larger varieties are cultivated for feeding green fodder. The original home of this species is unknown, but it is almost certainly of European or Asian origin.

Table of Contents

Nutritive Value of Turnip

The nutritive value of a 100-gram portion of turnips is as follows:

Serving Size: 100 g		DV
Calories	28 kcal	0%
Total Carbohydrate	6 g	2%
Dietary Fiber	1.8 g	7.00%
Sugar	3.8 g
Protein	0.6 g	5%
Cholesterol	0	0
Saturated fat	0	0
Sodium	67 mg	2%
Potassium	191 mg	5%
Iron		1%
Calcium		3%
Vitamin C		35%
Vitamin B6		5%
Magnesium		2%
Vitamin D		0%
Cobalamin		0%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Climatic Requirement for Turnip Cultivation

Turnips are a cool-weather crop, and they thrive best in a cool, moist climate. In hot weather, the growth is slow due to water scarcity and turnip quickly! becomes woody and bitter. It is highly resistant to frost.

Soil and its preparation for the cultivation of Turnip

Turnips can grow on a variety of soils. The sandy soil is most suitable for the production of the best-quality roots. Turnip requires well-pulverized soil. The soil is brought to a fine tilth by giving 6-8 ploughings followed by planking after each ploughing.

Varieties of Turnip

Turnip is divided into two groups:

1) Asian Type (Tropical Type); Asian types are more pungent and better for pickles, earlier & more heat-tolerant. Examples of these kinds of varieties are: Pusa Kanchan, Pusa Sweti, Punjab Safed 4

2) European Type (Temperate Type) European types of turnip are sweeter and more palatable. Examples of these kinds of varieties are: Purple Top White Globe, Golden Ball, Snow Ball, Early Milan Red Top, Pusa Chandrima, Pusa Swarnima

The major recommended varieties are:

Early Milan Red Top: The roots of this variety are deep and flat with a purplish-red top and white underneath. The flesh is pure white, well-grained, crisp, and mildly pungent. The top is very small with 4–6 sessile leaves. It is an extra early and very high-yielding variety.

Golden Ball: The roots of this variety are perfectly globe-shaped, medium-sized, and smooth. Golden Ball has a bright, creamy yellowish skin color, and its flesh is pale amber-colored with a fine texture and flavor. The top of the golden wall is small and erect with cut leaves.

Turnip Cultivation In India — Golden Ball

Punjab Safed 4; It is an early maturing variety, most commonly grown in the states of Punjab and Haryana. PS-4 roots are purely white, round, and medium-sized with a mild taste.

Purple Top White Globe; Variety is a high-yielder and one of the very large-rooted varieties. Its roots of this variety are nearly round; the upper part of this variety is purplish, while the lower portion is creamy. The flesh of this variety is white, firm, crispy, and has a mildly sweet flavor. The top is small and erect with cut leaves. It is suitable for growing during the winter months.

Pusa Chandrima’s roots are medium to large, nearly flattened globes to globular, smooth, pure white skin with fine grains. The flesh is sweet and tender. Top medium and leaves not so deeply cut. It is an early maturing (50–60 days), heavy cropper with an average yield of 400 q/ha. It is suitable for sowing from October to December in plains.

Pusa Kanchan ; Pusa Kanchan is a pure selection from the cross of Asiatic (Local Red Round) and European (Golden Ball) varieties. This variety contains good qualities of both the parents. The roots of this variety look just like the Local Red Round. The skin is red, the flesh is creamish- yellow with an ultimate flavor and lovely in taste. The leaf top is shorter than the Local Red Round. Pusa Kanchan can be harvested about 10 days later than the local parent. The roots of Pusa kanchan can be kept for a longer time than the Local Red Round in the field without becoming to be spongy.

Pusa Swarnima; The roots of Pusa Swarnima are flattish round with creamish-yellow skin and pale amber-colored flesh of fine texture and flavor. The top of this variety is medium and the leaf blade is not so deeply cut. This variety is suitable for growing from June to October in hills and October to December in plains. It matures in 65–70 days.

Pusa Sweti; Pusa Sweti has attractive white roots. Pusa Sweti takes 45–50 after the sowing for its maturity. Pusa Sweti is a very early-maturing type of variety, it is well suited for October sowing in plains.

Snow Ball; This variety is an early temperate type with a medium-sized, small top. The leaves of this variety are erect, cut, and medium green, and the roots of the snowball are round, smooth, with pure white skin. Snowball flesh is white, fine-grained, sweet, and tender.

Sowing of Turnip Seeds

(a) Sowing time. Sowing time varies according to the region and variety.

Sowing of turnip in the hilly region; sowing Indian varieties and European varieties should be done from March end to mid-May
Sowing of turnip in plains; Indian varieties sowing should be done in July to September, while European varieties sowing should be done in October to December
(b) Seed rate. The seed rate is 1.20 to 1.60 kg per acre.

(c) Method of sowing. The seed is sown broadcast or in lines 30–40 cm apart. The seed sown by broadcast is better; this method gives a better result when the soil has enough moisture, is very thoroughly tilled beforehand, and is free from weeds since subsequent tillage is impossible.

Manuring in Turnip Cultivation

Turnips require about 40 kg of nitrogen, 20 kg of phosphoric acid, and 20 kg of potassium per acre. application of 24 kg per acre each of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in addition to a basal dressing of 12 tonnes FY.M. per acre will increase the turnip yields. The placement of the N, P, and K mixture either below or at the sides was superior to broadcasting.

Intercultural Operation in Turnip Cultivation

One or two hoeings and weeding may be done. Thinning in thick sown plants should be done at the time of the second weedling. The crop is earthed up for better quality roots a few days after thinning. A Suitable herbicide may be applied immediately after sowing, to give good control of annual and biennial weeds in the turnip.

Irrigation

Irrigation should be given according to the season and need of the standing crop. Generally, irrigations are given at an interval of 3 to 6 days in summer and 10 to 12 days in winter. The quality of cooked turnips will be affected by the watering treatment that has been applied in the four weeks preceding harvest.

Harvesting of turnip ;

When the roots of turnips are 5 to 7.5 cm in diameter, they may be harvested. Under late harvesting, the roots become hard and fibrous and deteriorate rapidly in quality. The method of pulling the turnip plant from the field is important factor for keeping the self-life of the packed turnip when smooth-surfaced tuber lasted much longer than abrasion-pelled tuber ones.

Storage of Turnip

Turnips can be stored normally for 2 to 3 days under cool and moist conditions. The most suitable temperature range for turnip storage is 22.7°C to 23.9°C. Application of M.H. to plants before harvest prevents sprouting during storage.

The yield of Turnips

The yield varies from 80 to 120 quintals per acre.

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Turnip Cultivation In India; A Complete Information Guide

Nutritive Value of Turnip

Climatic Requirement for Turnip Cultivation