Rutabaga
Brassica napus subsp. rapifera 'American Purple Top'
vegetableAmerican Purple Top is the standard rutabaga, also called swede, a globe-shaped root 5 to 6 inches across with a deep purple crown over yellow shoulders and sweet, nutty yellow flesh. A long-season brassica root, it needs a cool finish to develop its flavor, sweetens markedly after frost, and stores for months as a winter keeper.
☀️
Sun
full sun
💧
Water
Every 2 days
🌾
Harvest
~90 days
📊
Difficulty
easy
🌱
Lifecycle
biennial
Leaves year 1, flowers year 2
↔️
Spacing
6-8 in. apart
⬇️
Planting Depth
1/2 in.
🧪
Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Growing Details
Soil Type
Loose, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 9
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At sowing; avoid excess nitrogen
Fertilizer
Low-nitrogen, higher potassium
🌱 Growing Guide
Direct sow about 2.5 to 3 months before a heavy fall frost, since rutabaga needs roughly 90 days and a long cool finish to mature well. Thin seedlings so the roots can size up without crowding, keep moisture even to prevent woody or cracked roots, and grow into cool weather for the sweetest flavor.
Planting Calendar
Sign in to personalize →spring planting
🌿
Direct sow
Apr 1
🌾
Projected first harvest
Jun 30
fall planting
🌿
Direct sow
Jul 28
🌾
Projected first harvest
Oct 26
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Onions — Scent helps deter pests
- Bush Beans — Fix nitrogen in the bed
- Sweet Alyssum — Draws aphid-eating hoverflies
- Nasturtium — Trap crop for aphids and flea beetles
❌ Keep away from
Potato
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Row cover young seedlings
Use row cover and rotate brassicas
Handpick foliage feeders and use Bt if needed
🌾 Harvest & storage
Pull roots once they reach 3 to 5 inches across, ideally after three to five cold nights, which bring them to peak sweetness. Roots tolerate frost in the ground and can be left under a thick mulch for extended harvest, but should not be allowed to freeze; they keep for months in cold, humid storage.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Rutabaga is low in calories and an excellent source of potassium, with a medium root supplying about a third of the daily value, plus plenty of vitamin C and useful fiber, manganese, and B6, and fewer carbohydrates than a potato.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.