Early Auvergne Turnip Seeds Vilmorin - Top-Shaped Roots, 45-60 Days

Early Auvergne Turnip Seed Packet Vilmorin (Reference: 3710441) represents the very best of French vegetable seed. This traditional variety from the Auvergne, selected by Vilmorin for its earliness and exceptional eating quality, produces turnips of the characteristic top shape. Known for its rapid growth, it lets gardeners obtain tasty vegetables in record time.

Benefits and uses

The Early Auvergne Turnip is for amateur and professional gardeners alike who want to broaden their vegetable production with a hardy, productive variety. Its rapid growth makes it an ideal choice for spring and autumn crops, allowing several harvests in a season. Young turnips, picked at 4-6 weeks, offer a fine, sweet flavour that is particularly prized in the family kitchen.

This variety suits urban vegetable plots and smaller gardens perfectly, thanks to its short cycle. It has its place in deep window boxes and raised beds, where making the most of the space is essential. Catering professionals seek out this variety for its tender texture and its versatility in the kitchen.

Technical features and innovation

Vilmorin seeds come from a rigorous selection process that guarantees a high germination rate and uniform plants. The Early Auvergne Turnip is marked by its distinctive top shape, with a well-developed underground part and the purplish crown typical of the variety.

This variety has excellent cold resistance, allowing early sowings from March under cover and right through to September for autumn harvests. The tap root needs a soil well prepared to a depth of 20-25 cm. The turnips reach their ideal size in 45-60 days depending on the weather.

The white, firm flesh keeps its nutritional and eating qualities even after cooking. Rich in vitamin C, fibre and minerals, this root vegetable is an excellent addition to the diet of the whole family.

Sowing and practical use

Sowing turnips is done directly outdoors or under cover depending on the season. Prepare the soil by working it deeply to remove any obstacles that could distort the roots. A loose, humus-rich soil encourages the best development of the turnips.

Sow in rows 25-30 cm apart, at a depth of 1-2 cm. Once the seedlings are up (8-12 days), thin them out to keep one plant every 8-10 cm. This step is crucial to obtain well-formed turnips and avoid competition between plants.

Regular but moderate watering keeps the soil cool without waterlogging. A light mulch around the plants limits evaporation and reduces how often you need to water. Harvest in dry weather, lifting the turnips gently by hand or with a spade.

Tips, pairings and expert advice

Companion planting with radishes makes the best use of space: sow a few radish seeds between the rows of turnips. The radishes, being earlier, will be harvested before the turnips take up all the available room. Avoid planting near other brassicas, to prevent the diseases they share.

For a staggered crop, sow again every 2-3 weeks from March to September. This technique guarantees regular harvests and turnips that are always young and tender. The autumn sowings, being more vigorous, produce turnips for winter storage.

In the kitchen, pick the turnips young (4-5 cm across) to eat them raw, grated or sliced, in salads. Larger turnips are perfect for soups, hotpots and gratins. The young, tender tops are eaten like spinach and are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Expert tip: a dressing of mature compost before sowing improves the soil structure and feeds the plants gradually. Avoid fresh manure, which encourages leaf growth at the expense of the roots.

Technical specifications