How to Grow Rutabaga Plants

About Growing Rutabaga

As a member of the mustard family, Rutabaga is not an overly common crop in home gardens in the U.S. They are, however, quite popular in Europe and Canada. Like its cousin the Turnip, Rutabagas are an easy-to-grow root crop. They are nutritious, versatile, and taste good raw, with dips or cooked. Of the two, rutabagas are larger and take longer to reach harvest. Even experienced gardeners can Use this guide on “How to Grow Rutabaga” to learn how to grow them better. Then, buy some seeds and get growing rutabaga.

For some reason, when we speak of Turnips and Rutabagas, we talk about them together. Perhaps, that’s because they both are root crops, and both are more obscure and uncommon in the vegetable garden. There are significant differences. Rutabagas, for example, are a cross between a turnip and a cabbage, hence we consider them cousins. Turnips are quick to grow and can produce two or more crops in a season. Growing Rutabagas require 80-100 days. You will only get a fall crop.

Did you know? In Ireland, Turnips and Rutabagas were hollowed out and a small ember was put in them to ward off demons and devils. They were the first Jack O” Lanterns.

Common Varieties of Rutabaga

Rutabaga ranges from a round root to a slightly oblong variety. The root has a peppery like cabbage flavor.

Here are the most popular varieties:

Altasweet has less of a peppery taste.

American Purple Top is an heirloom. It is the most popular variety.

Champion Purple Top has large, smooth roots. They are pale ivory with purple tops.

Laurentian is an heirloom variety with sweet bulbs.

Navone Yellow Cabbages is excellent for long-term storage. It has yellow flesh.

Pike is perhaps the hardiest variety.

Nutritional Value

1 cup of raw rutabaga contains approximately:

52 calories
12 g carbs
almost no cholesterol
0.2 g fat
3.2 g fiber
1.5 g protein
17 mg sodium

Rutabaga Plant Specifications

Days to Harvest: 90 to 110 days, depending upon variety and growing conditions.

Plant height: 12 to 18 inches tall, depending upon variety.

Light Needs: Full sunlight.

Ideal Soil pH – 5.5 – 6.5

Plant Hardiness Zones: 3 – 10

Number of Varieties: Over 30.

Deer Resistant? Yes.

Plant Type: Biennial usually grown as an annual.

Native To: Northern Europe.

Botanical Name: Brassica napus rapifera

Sowing Rutabaga Seeds

Sow Rutabaga seeds 1/2 inch deep, two to four inches apart, in rows 1 1/2 to two feet apart. Plant Rutabaga seeds in double rows to conserve space in your home garden.

Final Spacing: Depending upon variety, space plants six inches apart, in rows 18 to 24 inches apart.

Time the sowing of seeds for a fall harvest. This can vary significantly, depending upon the length of the season in your area. Try to time the harvest between the last couple weeks before frost to about a month after the first frost. Being hardy plants, they survive frosts. Even after hard freezes, the roots are fine to harvest.

How to Grow Rutabaga Plants

Planting and Soil Needs

The plants grow best in full sun.

While the plants tolerate poor soils, they grow better in richer garden soils and be less likely to take on a woody texture. Work the soil and add compost and manure. Make sure to remove any large rocks and stones that may impede the growth of the root.

Light Requirements

Plant them in an area of your garden where they will receive at least six to eight hours of bright, direct sunlight. In warmer regions of the country, the plants benefit with a little shade during the hottest part of the day.

Fertilizer Needs

Rutabaga plants are heavy feeders. Mix in a general-purpose fertilizer into the soil at planting time. Then, apply a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium every three to four weeks during the growing season. These two nutrients promote root development.

Water Needs

Provide an ample water throughout the growing season. Keep the soil moist, not wet during the entire growing season. Of course, like other root crops, the action is below the soil. Therefore, you want to encourage the steady growth of the roots. As a rule of thumb “when in doubt, apply additional water”.

Other Steps

Rutabagas sprout in about a week to ten days. A couple of weeks after they have sprouted, thin seedlings to a spacing of six inches apart.

Weeds will compete for water and soil nutrients. Additionally, weeds will shade the plants while the rutabaga plants are still young. Thus, keep the area well-weeded.

Also see:

Plant Problems

Soil Temperatures

Ideal Soil pH

Insects and Pests

The plants and bulb can be visited by a variety of insects and pests. The insect world knows that this vegetable is tasty and nutritious. Insect pests include slugs and snails, aphids, beetles, cutworms, and root maggots.

Plant Disease

Occasional mildews and a white blister disease can affect the crop. However, it is infrequent.

Plant Problems – Diagnosis, causes and cures for many common plant problems.

Plant Hardiness

Both Turnips and Rutabagas are cool weather crops. They withstand light freezes. Rutabagas are the hardier of the two and can be harvested well after the first killing frost.