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Root vegetables · Brassica rapa 'Tokyo Cross'

Tokyo Cross Turnip

Tokyo Cross Turnip is a hybrid root vegetable variety (Brassica rapa 'Tokyo Cross'). Harvest begins around day 35-40; seed germinates in 4-8 days. Set plants 3-4 inches apart. Grow in soil pH 6.0-7.0, zones 5-9, full sun to partial shade (4-8 hours). Plants reach 3 feet. It will crop in a container. Hybrid seed does not come true, so it has to be bought fresh each season rather than saved.

Root vegetables
35-40days to harvest
4-8days to germinate
Z5–9USDA zones
Easydifficulty
F1 hybridContainer friendly

Sowing

Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost and again in late summer. Plant seeds ¼ inch deep, thin to proper spacing when 2 inches tall.

Cultivation

Sun
Full sun to partial shade (4-8 hours)
Water
High — consistent moisture needed
Soil
Well-drained, fertile soil with good organic matter
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Spacing
3-4 inches
Height
3 feet
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall

Appearance & flavour

Colour
Pure white roots with bright green tops
Size
2-3 inches diameter
Shape
Flattened globe, uniform and smooth
Flavour
Sweet, mild, and crisp with no bitter aftertaste

In the kitchen

Excellent raw in salads, quick cooking, stir-fries, roasting. Greens are tender and edible.

Pests, disease & resistance

Pests
Flea beetles, aphids, cabbage root maggots
Diseases
Clubroot, black rot, white rust
Resistance
Good resistance to clubroot and turnip mosaic virus

Planting calendar by USDA zone

ZoneStart indoorsTransplantDirect sowHarvest
1——June – JulyJuly – September
2——May – JulyJune – September
3——May – JuneJune – October
4——April – JuneJune – October
5——April – MayMay – November
6——April – MayMay – November
7——March – MayApril – November
8——March – AprilApril – December
9——February – MarchMarch – December
10——January – MarchFebruary – December
11——January – FebruaryJanuary – December
12——January – FebruaryJanuary – December
13——January – FebruaryJanuary – December

Companion planting

8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.

RadishesBreak up soil for turnip root development and deter flea beetles
CarrotsDifferent root depths prevent competition and improve soil structure
OnionsRepel root maggots and aphids that commonly attack turnips
GarlicNatural fungicide properties protect against soil-borne diseases
LettuceShallow roots don't compete and provide living mulch
SpinachCool-season companion with similar growing requirements
PeasFix nitrogen in soil and turnips benefit from increased nitrogen availability
MarigoldsRepel nematodes and other soil pests that damage turnip roots

Avoid

MustardSame family (Brassicaceae) attracts similar pests like flea beetles and clubroot
BroccoliFellow brassica competes for nutrients and attracts cabbage worms
Black WalnutProduces juglone toxin that inhibits growth of most vegetables including turnips

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Calories (per 100 g)
28
Protein (g)
0.9
Fat (g)
0.1
Carbohydrate (g)
6.43
Fibre (g)
1.8
Sugars (g)
3.8
Vitamin A (µg)
0
Vitamin C (mg)
21
Vitamin E (mg)
0.03
Vitamin K (µg)
0.1
Vitamin B6 (mg)
0.09
Folate (µg)
15
Calcium (mg)
30
Iron (mg)
0.3
Magnesium (mg)
11
Phosphorus (mg)
27
Potassium (mg)
191
Zinc (mg)
0.27
Selenium (µg)
0.7
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Growing it? There is a full cultivation guide at the root vegetables growing guide.

Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.

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Similar varieties

Other root vegetables with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Tokyo Cross Turnip suits these too.

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