Garden calendar for the kitchen garden - vegetables and herbs. See what to plant right now and for next month.

Growing Swedes, also Rutabagas

(Brassica napus var.napobrassica)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
P	P	P	P

(Best months for planting Swedes in Australia - temperate regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 7°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
Space plants: 10 - 20 cm apart
Harvest in 10-14 weeks.
Compatible with: Peas, Beans, Chives
Avoid growing with: Potatoes

Member of turnip family Round root vegetable with creamy white flesh and reddish purple leaves.

They take about 3 to 4 months to grow.

Grow where beans or peas have been grown the year before.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Swedes

Use when about the size of a tennis ball.
The leaves can be cooked like cabbage when young.

Your comments and tips

08 Jan 12, Ron (Australia - temperate climate): Originally from Scotland 50 years ago, we always had mashed swede(neeps) with haggis and it is still one of my favorites.
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25 Mar 11, Steve (Australia - temperate climate): You recommend harvesting when the swede is tennis ball size, in the UK we used to buy them the size of bowling balls. Any reason why you recommend harvesting when they are so small?
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20 Sep 10, Pam, Western Australia-Temperate (Australia - temperate climate): When in UK on holiday I found that swede seemed much sweeter than here. Anyone know what variety they are and if can grow or buy here (WA).
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08 Oct 10, Tassy Michele (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Hiya Pam, I grew up eating swede and still love it. I think the sweetness is in the cooking. Mum used to peel and dice swede and put in pot in cold water, bring to boil and pour off water (it is often a brownish colour and bitter to taste). She would then cover in cold water and sprinkle a scant teaspoon of sugar on, and simmer until cooked. Mash and add a dob of butter ....... YUM. She cooked broad beans and brussel sprouts in the same way. Swede is also very nice oven baked as you would potato wedges. Try sweet potato, carrot and parsnip the same way .... even my young boys loved veg like this. Cheers
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10 Mar 10, Danny (Australia - temperate climate): Swede is my fav! My favorite way (Which is a bit naughty) Is to peel and cut into cubes. Melt butter in a saucepan put swede in. Pop on a lid and slowly and gently cook till swede is soft. then mash with salt and lots of pepper into a delicious creamy mash.Delicious on its own in a bowl or as a dip. Also swede in a big dahl or curry is delicious also.
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27 Sep 09, Jackie (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Thanks Phil and Diane, I will try both of these ideas.
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27 Jul 09, Phil (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Mash it up and mix with carrot as you would do mashed potato. It is great with a roast. Add real butter when mashing for better results.
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19 Jul 09, Jackie (Australia - cool/mountain climate): This year is the first time I have ever grown swedes and I have a huge crop. Anyone have some good recipes? I have only ever steamed them and mashed with butter salt & pepper.
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04 May 09, Tim (Australia - temperate climate): The leaves of my swede have been drooping and shrivelling up. There looks like a grey ash on the leaves and I think it's some kind of mite. Anyone else seen this?
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06 Jun 10, robert (Australia - temperate climate): you have a form of afids on your leaves
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See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical, South Africa - Humid sub-tropical, South Africa - Semi-arid, South Africa - Summer rainfall, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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