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 7°C and 25°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 10 - 20 cm apart
  • Harvest in 10-14 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Peas, Beans, Chives
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

03 Jun 16, Sam (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi i've read all over the place that you can regrow Swedes from the Top (Kitchen Scraps) i've just tried this on my laundry windowsill in water - it has started to grow long thin roots & a few (3-4) shoots off the top.. Now i'm wondering how to transplant it without causing it to rot or something?? Also Will it regrow to produce another Swede or few?? Do i separate the shoots on top or replant the top whole?? Thanks, Sam
09 Jul 16, Pete (Australia - temperate climate)
Dig a hole about 5 cm deeper that the roots. Bed in your plant using a good potting mix. It will 'take' in about 2 weeks and start to grow. After 3 weeks fertilize with half strength liquid fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro. Don't fertilize again if your soil is good.
27 Mar 16, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Plant your swedes From seedlings april. If leggy when germinated. Plant seedlings deeper up to first leaf join.
07 Mar 15, Sharon (Australia - temperate climate)
We planted swede seed in trays 3 weeks ago in potting mix and had 2 seeds germinate. We kept them moist and they were in dappled shade - what did we do wrong?
19 May 15, Marina (Australia - temperate climate)
Swede are to be sown direct into the soil just like carrots. They don't like to be transplanted.
27 Sep 14, Judith Kellett (Australia - temperate climate)
The best swedes ever are grown in Tasmania, up high at a place called Collin's Cap, but those from Collinsvale at around 400 metres elevation were pretty awesome. My kids used to beg me to cut them slices to eat raw!!! They were more bowling ball than tennis ball size: my neighbour used to give them to me in 10kg pockets that held about 7 or 8. Now in Adelaide I despair at the miserable golf balls in the shops. I firmly believe they do best in a cool to cold climate.
12 Apr 24, Pat Fraser (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
You are quite right there Judith I worked on the farms in Scotland and you never lifted turnips till they had the frost on them, that`s what gives them the sweetness. I have no idea why they don``t leave them in the ground longer until they grow bigger as you said like a bowling ball. I have bought some seeds to try and grow them here in Melbourne but I think I have left it a bit too late this year as the cold weather is here already, but I will definitely plant them next year in time for winter.
18 Apr 14, Lisa (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have trouble getting swedes to grow. They are always small and stringy. My turnips and parsnips in the same bed are fine, but I also have trouble with beetroot, kohl rabi and leeks.
01 Feb 14, Allen Lee (Australia - temperate climate)
Brassica rapa. Swede Laurentian can be obtained from "Diggers seeds" whether they have the one you are looking for by contacting them they may be able to help you. They do carry seeds from US too.
06 Jan 14, Michael Tuma (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I am chasing seeds or plants of a swede / turnip I've been told is called Rutabaga by the Americans and here in Australia. Every listing I find here has Rutabaga as 'Brassica napus (var.) napobrassica' whereas I'm after the one the Germans call "Steckruebe". It's botanical name is Brassica napus (var.) rapifera. Can anybody help?
Showing 21 - 30 of 46 comments

Bunnings have Swede seeds.

- Pat Fraser

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