Growing Rutabaga, also Swedes

Brassica napus var.napobrassica : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S S                  
    T T T              
    P P                

(Best months for growing Rutabaga in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • 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 45°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 4 - 8 inches apart
  • Harvest in 10-14 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Peas, Beans, Chives
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes
  • Rutabaga harvest (commons.wikimedia.org - Seedambassadors - CC BY-SA 3.0)

Related to turnips. 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 Rutabaga

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

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
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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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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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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27 Sep 09, Jackie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Thanks Phil and Diane, I will try both of these ideas.
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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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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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07 Mar 12, David Allison (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
A slight frost will sweeten swedes - experiment by putting a swede in your deep freeze for an hour or more (depends on the size of the swede)
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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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Showing 1 - 10 of 46 comments
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I have grown some swedes in Dubbo good tops and no actual swede developed. what would cause that.? the soil was well fertilized with sheep manure.

- Lorin Maskey

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