Gold Ball Turnip is an heirloom variety that has been delighting gardeners since before 1859, and for good reason. The plants produce perfectly shaped, 3-4 inch amber globes that are remarkably fine-grained and smooth, never woody or fibrous like lesser turnips. Maturing in 70-79 days under full sun, this annual Brassica thrives as a reliable cool-season crop that stores beautifully, making it ideal for gardeners who want to preserve their harvest through winter.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained Loam, Tolerates Poor Soils
Preferred Temp50-75°F
Growth Stats
—
Height
—
Width
6 in
Spacing
70–79
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual, Biennial
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-10
Size
?in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual, Biennial
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
What sets Gold Ball apart is its meaty, tender flesh that refuses to turn woody even as the roots mature, a trait that separates it from many other turnip varieties. The variety's compact 3-4 inch globes are perfectly proportioned for storage and cooking, and its smooth amber skin is as visually appealing as it is indicative of quality inside. This is a turnip that actually improves with age in storage rather than declining, making it the kind of heirloom worth seeking out.
Common Uses
Gold Ball Turnip is primarily a root vegetable for kitchen use, prized for roasting, braising, or mashing where its fine-grained, meaty texture shines. The smooth flesh means it cooks evenly without the grainy or woody texture that makes some turnips disappointing in the pot. Its excellent keeping qualities make it particularly valuable for anyone preserving the harvest, these roots store reliably in cool conditions, extending fresh eating well into winter.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Does Not Bloom Unless Left To Overwinter
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Early Fall
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Gold Ball seeds in your garden bed in spring or mid to late summer for fall harvest, as turnips are cool-season crops that germinate best when soil temperatures are moderate.
Harvesting
Gold Ball Turnips are ready to harvest 70-79 days after sowing when the roots have reached their characteristic 3-4 inch diameter. You can pull them at any size, but waiting for full maturity ensures the sweetest, most tender flesh. The smooth amber skin will feel firm and unblemished when ready. Twist or gently pull the roots from the soil, being careful not to bruise them if you're planning to store them long-term.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Brassica rapa L.
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Duration
Annual, Biennial
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)CAN (I)GL (I)
History & Origin
“Gold Ball represents one of those rare vegetables whose appeal has endured for over 160 years without need for reinvention. First introduced before 1859, it has persisted in seed catalogs and home gardens not because of marketing hype, but because generations of gardeners have simply refused to replace it with anything else. The variety's continued vigor suggests that whatever characteristics made it worth saving in the first place, reliable production, excellent flavor, long storage life, remain as valuable to today's gardeners as they were to their great-great-grandparents.”