Crop type: Turnips

Brassica rapa (Rapifera Group) ‘Sweetbell’

Common name: Turnip ‘Sweetbell’

Crop slug: turnips

This Allotment Pro editorial draft summarises the cited RHS cultivar profile.

1 - Overview

‘Sweetbell’ is a small neat salad turnip with a sweet crisp texture. The root has pink-purple skin surrounding very white flesh, making it attractive when cut and suitable for harvesting young to eat raw or stir-fry. Its edible leafy tops can also be cooked.

2 - Size

Ultimate height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Ultimate spread: 0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate size: 1 year

The tufted growth remains compact above the small root.

3 - Growing conditions

Suitable soils: Firm fertile soil, including coastal ground
Moisture: Moist but well drained
Soil pH: Acid, neutral or alkaline

Even moisture preserves the crisp salad texture.

4 - Position and hardiness

Light: Full sun
Aspect: Any aspect
Exposure: Exposed or sheltered
Hardiness: H5 — hardy in most UK places even in severe winters, approximately −15 to −10°C

The profile explicitly includes coastal cultivation.

5 - Colour and seasonal interest

Season	Foliage	Roots
Spring	Green tuft	Pink-purple skin developing
Summer	Green	Pink-purple root with very white flesh

The contrast between coloured skin and white flesh is its clearest identifier.

6 - Botanical details

Family: Brassicaceae
Native to Great Britain and Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen on the profile
Habit: Tufted
Name status: Accepted

Genus

Brassicas include upright annual, biennial and perennial plants with taproots, alternate often glaucous leaves and cross-shaped flowers.

7 - How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in full sun in firm fertile soil, including coastal regions, and harvest while small for crisp salad roots.

Propagation

Propagate by seed.

Pruning

No pruning is required.

Pests

Young plants may attract flea beetles, small-white caterpillars, cabbage root fly, mealy cabbage aphid and pigeons.

Diseases

Brassica downy mildew, white blister and soil-borne club root may occur.