This annual vegetable shows a height up to 1 to 3 inches. The roots are smooth and nearly round with purple color on top. The Brassica rapa subsp. rapa is a root vegetable commonly grown in temperate climates worldwide for its white, fleshy taproot. Small, tender varieties are grown for human consumption, while larger varieties are grown as feed for livestock. The name turnip – used in many regions – may also include rutabaga, neep or swede. It’s leaves are sometimes eaten as “turnip greens” (“turnip tops” in the UK), and they resemble mustard greens (to which they are closely related) in flavor. It’s greens are a common side dish in southeastern U.S. cooking, primarily during late Fall and Winter. Smaller leaves are preferred. Varieties grown specifically for their leaves resemble mustard greens and have small roots.

Their roots weigh up to 1 kilogram (2 pounds 3 ounces), although they are usually harvested when smaller. Size is partly a function of variety and partly a function of the length of time the turnip has grown.