Your comments and tips

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.

Reply or Post a new comment

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.

Reply or Post a new comment

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?

Reply or Post a new comment

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.

Reply or Post a new comment

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.

Reply or Post a new comment

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.

Reply or Post a new comment

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.

Reply or Post a new comment

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.

Reply or Post a new comment

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?

Reply or Post a new comment

12 Apr 24, Pat Fraser (Australia - temperate climate)

Bunnings have Swede seeds.

Reply or Post a new comment