Golden Ball is a slow germinating and growing turnip variety with a very delicious, mild nutt-like flavour and firm structure. It must be harvested from approx. 7 cm in size. This is one of the best late harvested varieties available. It can be stored on the plot during the winter without turning the globes into wood. It can be harvested approx. after 65 days.
Outdoor sowing early crop: march - may
Outdoor sowing late crop: july - august
Germination temp: 7-20 ºC
Germination: 14-21 days
Sowing depth: ¼-½ cm
Row spacing: 40-50 cm
Plant spacing: 10-16 cm
Planting position: sunny and light
Days to harvest: 65
Sow for an early crop in march - may and for a late crop in july - august in a well prepared seedbed with no extra manure. Sow thinly and cover the seeds with a thin layer of fine soil. Space the rows 40-50 cm apart. Keep weedfree and moist during germination. Germination takes 14-21 days or longer, depending on the weather conditions.
Thin the seedlings, when they are 5-7 cm tall, to 10-15 cm apart. Turnips prefer an open, sunny site with loose, well drained soil which has been manured for a previous crop. They require a lot of water especially when they are growing. Harvest the globes when they are about the size of a tennis ball. The foliage can also be used as greens, harvest them when they are young and tender. For continuous harvesting you can sow small amounts every month. Protect the plants against snails and slugs.