Rutabaga Growing Guide
Growing Rutabaga is easier than you think. This guide walks you through everything you need — from planting your first seed to harvesting.
At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Vegetable
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -10°C
Plant Family
Brassicaceae
Growing Season
Cool Season
Plant Lifecycle
Biennial
Also grows well as
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Direct-sow about 1.5 cm deep in early-to-mid summer (roughly 90 days before your first frost), then thin to 20 cm. Doesn't transplant well, so sow it where it'll grow.
Rutabaga (swede) is a long-season brassica root grown mainly for autumn/winter storage. Sow it in summer so it matures in cool weather; a touch of frost actually improves the flavour.
When To Start
First Chance to Plant
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Last Chance to Plant
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When should you plant Rutabaga?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Rutabaga Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
The Journey Ahead
Rutabaga's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Expect sprouts in 5–10 days
Growing Tips
- 1Rutabaga wants steady moisture and cool weather to grow smooth, sweet roots.
- 2Sow it in summer for an autumn harvest, keep it weed-free, and don't rush it — frost is its friend.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
~95
Days to Maturity
35 cm
Mature Height
25 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
Harvest Window
21 days
When to Pick
Lift in autumn after a light frost or two; ~90–100 days
How to Harvest
- 1Pull the roots in autumn once they're 10–13 cm across, ideally after a frost or two for sweetness.
- 2Twist off the tops and store the roots somewhere cool and humid — they keep for months.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
How to Save Seeds
Rutabaga is biennial — overwinter a root, let it flower the next year, and collect the seed from the dry pods. Isolate from other brassicas to keep it true.
Seed Production
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