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Growing Swedes, also Rutabagas

(Brassica napus var.napobrassica)

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

(Best months for planting Swedes in Australia - cool/mountain regions)

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


  • Easy to grow.
  • Harvest in 10-14 weeks.
  • 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.
  • Space plants: 10-20cm

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

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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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02 Sep 09 Diane (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Peel and slice swede into 2cm thick slices and gently fry them in a little oil until browned on both sides. Absolutely yummy as a replacement for potato.
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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 - cool/mountain,   Australia - sub-tropical,   Australia - temperate,   Australia - tropical,   New Zealand - cool/mountain,   New Zealand - sub-tropical,   New Zealand - temperate,   United Kingdom - cool/temperate,   United Kingdom - warm/temperate  

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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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