Scarlet Queen Red Stem

Family: Brassicaceae Root Brassica

Velvety, crisp-skinned roots emerge with a regal blush—scarlet shoulders fading to a clean, pale interior—offering a bright, peppery-sweet bite that feels lively and fresh.

“Scarlet Queen Red Stem” forms a smooth, globe-to-flattened turnip with a tender texture that stays pleasantly fine-grained at 55 days, ideal for table turnips. Grow it for standout color in your harvest basket and for quick, versatile use in fresh salads, roasting, and vibrant pickling-style preparations.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Taproot

Botanical illustration of Scarlet Queen Red Stem

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 19th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Taproot
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This table turnip earns its keep with a peppery-sweet snap and a fine-grained texture that stays pleasant at short cooking times. Slice it thin for salad crunch or roast/pickle it so the exterior color turns bold while the interior stays tender, not gritty.

Best Uses

thin-slice raw in salads for a snap that doesn’t turn fibrous
quick pickle-style batches where the color and tang stay punchy
roast until edges bronze while centers stay tender-silky

Flavor Profile

bright peppery bite pepper-sweet flavor with crisp, juicy crunch fine-grained tenderness (not woody)

Kitchen Pairings

butter dill mustard smoked salmon lemon

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Brassica rapa (turnip) and how can I treat it?

Turnip often suffers from flea beetles, which chew small shot holes in leaves soon after emergence. Cover seedlings with a fine row cover immediately after sowing and remove it only once plants are well established; if damage starts, spray an insecticidal soap on dry, mild days and repeat every 5–7 days as needed. If plants look pale with limp growth, check for clubroot (swollen roots) and avoid planting Brassica rapa in that soil again for several years.

How often should I water Brassica rapa during the main growing phase (bulb formation)?

During bulb formation (roughly weeks 3–6), keep soil evenly moist—about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, split into 2–3 waterings if it’s hot or windy. Water deeply when the top 1 inch of soil dries; inconsistent moisture can cause turnips to become woody or split and the leaves to stall.

How do I tell when Brassica rapa (Scarlet Queen turnip) is ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 45–55 days when the bulbs are about 2–3 inches (5–7.5 cm) across and the stems/leaves look vigorous but not aged. If you can see the bulb shoulder at the soil line, you can start lifting one to confirm size; leaving bulbs too long often makes them tougher. For best texture, pull in the morning and cool them promptly.