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 S                  
  T T T T              
  P P P                

(Best months for growing Rutabaga in Australia - sub-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
  • 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
21 Mar 23, Greg J (Australia - temperate climate)
Swedes actually freeze long term pretty good, if you cook them and mash them up the same way you would to serve them, and then stick the mash in plastic bags and stick them in the deep freeze. The frozen mash lasts for months, and you just whip out a bag when you want a side dish of mashed swedes and let it defrost, and off you go! No difference in taste or texture at all.
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08 Feb 23, (Australia - temperate climate)
In Cornish pasties or boiled with potatoes and mashed together with garlic butter Salt and lots of pepper. Great with corned beef and cabbage.
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23 Jan 21, Tracey Bullen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I live in Hobart & have had great success with swedes & parsnips in separate beds. Can they be planted in the same bed? Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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25 Jan 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Shouldn't be any problem.
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30 Dec 19, Volkhard (Australia - temperate climate)
Swedes. I planted them as seedlings in Sep/Oct. They grew ok but quite early developed flower shoots, and the roots became woody. What is the secret to avoid this? Should I plant them earlier, say July-August?
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04 Jan 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
Check here https://www.gardenate.com/plant/Rutabaga?zone=2
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04 Mar 18, Scott (Australia - temperate climate)
can I grow sweedes next to or near cauliflower??
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05 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
There is nothing here that says you can't grow swedes and silver beet next to caulies.
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05 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My advice would be not to grow sliver beet and swede too close to cauliflower - the reason the cauliflower could produce a big leaf area and smoother the other two crops. My broccoli plants usually end up 3-4' across and 2.5-3' high. Crowds out other plants if too close.
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29 Sep 17, Daryl Pungitore (Australia - temperate climate)
How are swedes preserved? I dont really want to freeze them. Any ideas?
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