Tokyo Market Turnip, a member of the Brassica rapa subspecies, is a highly-regarded heirloom turnip variety cherished for its mild and sweet flavor profile. Originating in Japan, it has a rich history of cultivation and culinary tradition. This turnip is characterized by its petite, round roots, typically measuring 1 to 2 inches in diameter. The smooth, white skin gives it a pristine appearance, making it visually appealing both in the garden and on the plate. Its tender flesh offers a delightful crispness when eaten fresh and becomes even sweeter and more tender when cooked.
Variety Details
Plant type: Biennial
Growth habit: Herbaceous
Crop category: Turnip
Kitchen profile: Tokyo Market Turnip, a member of the Brassica rapa subspecies, is a highly-regarded heirloom turnip variety cherished for its mild and sweet flavor profile.
Recorded feature: Open-Pollinated
Product format: Seed packet
Sowing & Growing
Maturity: Harvest the turnips when they reach the desired size, usually within 30 to 45 days after planting.
Light: Full Sun
Planting season: Fall or Spring
Starting location: Direct Sow
Recorded soil pH: 6.6 – 7.0
Direct sow Tokyo Market Turnip into a prepared bed during the local cool-season window. Keep the seed zone from drying during establishment and thin seedlings to the recorded spacing. Harvest leaves selectively when the crop is grown for greens, or allow roots room to size when that is the intended use. Check root shoulders as the maturity range approaches and harvest at the size and texture preferred for fresh use, cooking, or storage.
Before sowing Tokyo Market Turnip, review the packet alongside the current product details and note any range in temperature, germination, or maturity. Ranges reflect biological and seasonal variation rather than a fixed promise. Label each planting with its date and location, then compare emergence, growth, and harvest with local weather. This record is useful for succession plantings and for deciding whether the crop fits better into an earlier or later seasonal window.
