How to grow Rutabaga
Updated October 2026
Rutabaga is a hardy cool-season root, a cross between a turnip and a cabbage, with sweet, dense yellow flesh. It takes about 90 to 100 days to mature and tastes best when the roots finish growing in cool fall weather, so it is usually sown in early summer in the North and in late summer to fall in the South. Well-grown roots store for months.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Rutabaga
Not to be confused with: Rutabaga is often confused with turnip. Rutabagas are larger, slower, with yellow flesh and smooth, waxy blue-green leaves; turnips are quicker, usually white-fleshed and have hairy leaves. Rutabaga is called swede in Britain.
Where to plant
Grow rutabagas in full sun in moderately deep, fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of about 6.2 to 6.8. Loosen the soil well and remove stones so the roots can size up evenly.
Rutabagas need a long, cool finish. Count back about 90 to 100 days from your first expected hard fall frost to find the sowing date. Roots that mature in hot weather are woody and strong flavored, so spring sowings are only worthwhile where spring stays cool.
- Northeast, Midwest, Northern Plains, Mountain West and Alaska: sow from about mid-June to mid-July for a fall harvest (Iowa State gives June 15 to July 15).
- Pacific Northwest: sow in early summer for fall and winter roots, which often stand in the ground through the mild winter.
- Mid-Atlantic, Mid-South and Southern Plains: sow in July to August for fall; a very early spring sowing can work where spring stays cool.
- Georgia and similar Southeast areas: UGA gives August 1 to September 15 in north Georgia and August 1 to October 1 in south Georgia for fall, plus early spring sowings.
- Florida, the Gulf South, Texas, the Desert Southwest and California: sow from about September to January for roots through the cool season.
- Hawaii: sow in the cooler months.
Choosing a variety
American Purple Top is the standard US variety: about 90 days, purple crown above yellow, globe-shaped roots 5 to 6 inches across with yellow flesh. Laurentian is another common purple-top type.
How to plant
- Work compost and fertilizer into a well-prepared seedbed, following a soil test if possible.
- Sow seed 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in rows 14 to 24 inches apart.
- Keep the seedbed moist; in summer heat, a light shade cloth or board over the row helps germination.
- Thin seedlings when they are 1 to 2 inches high to 4 to 8 inches apart.
- Hoe weeds shallowly while plants are young.
Watering and feeding
Rutabagas need steady moisture for smooth, sweet roots, about 1 1/2 inches of water every 7 to 10 days if rain is short. Dry spells make roots woody and strongly flavored.
UGA suggests applying half the fertilizer at planting and half about four weeks later.
Harvesting
Harvest when the roots are about 3 to 5 inches across, usually after a few light frosts, which improve their sweetness. Rutabagas tolerate frost well and can stay in the ground into early winter, but lift them before the ground freezes hard. In mild-winter areas, dig them through the cool season.
Twist or cut off the tops, leaving about an inch of stem, and store unwashed roots cold and humid, close to 32°F to 35°F with high humidity, where they keep for several months. Store-bought rutabagas are coated in wax to keep them from drying out.
Using it
Peel thickly, then mash rutabaga with butter, roast it in chunks, or add it to stews, pasties and soups. It is often mashed half and half with potatoes or carrots.
Companion planting
Rutabaga is a cabbage-family root, so rotate it with other brassicas and give it plenty of room to size up.
Good companions
- Peas Spring peas finish in early summer, freeing the bed for a rutabaga sowing.
- Lettuce A quick crop between young rutabaga plants in late summer.
- Onion A slim crop that shares the bed without shading.
- Nasturtium Its flowers bring in beneficial insects and can draw aphids away.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to rutabaga.
- Potato Both are space-hungry root crops; give each its own bed.
- Mustard Greens Another cabbage-family crop that shares the same pests and diseases, so keep them in separate rotations.
- Strawberry A perennial bed is best kept separate from the brassica rotation.
Pests and diseases
Rutabagas share the pests and diseases of the cabbage family. Rotation and row covers help most.
Pests to watch for
- Flea beetles Tiny round holes in seedling leaves, worst in warm, dry weather.
- Aphids Gray, waxy clusters under the leaves (turnip and cabbage aphids).
- Cabbage worms Green caterpillars and ragged holes in the leaves.
- Cabbage root maggot Brown tunnels in the roots made by small white maggots, mainly in the North.
Diseases to watch for
- Clubroot Wilting plants with swollen, distorted roots; avoid beds where brassicas had it and keep pH near neutral.
- Powdery mildew White powder on the leaves late in the season.
- Downy mildew Yellow patches with gray fuzz underneath in cool, damp weather.
Common questions
What is the difference between a rutabaga and a turnip?
Rutabagas are larger and slower, with sweet yellow flesh and smooth, waxy leaves. Turnips mature in about half the time, usually have white flesh and hairy leaves. Rutabaga is a cross between a turnip and a cabbage.
When should I plant rutabagas?
About 90 to 100 days before the first hard fall frost, which is mid-June to mid-July in much of the North and late summer to fall in the South. Choose your region at the top of the page for the months.
Why are my rutabagas woody or bitter?
They matured in hot weather or went short of water. Sow so the roots finish in cool fall weather and keep the soil evenly moist.
How big should rutabagas be at harvest?
About 3 to 5 inches across. A few light frosts before harvest make them sweeter.
How do I store rutabagas?
Cut off the tops, leave the roots unwashed, and store them cold and humid, close to 32°F to 35°F, in a root cellar, a cool garage in a bin of damp sand, or the fridge. They keep for several months.
Is rutabaga the same as swede?
Yes. Rutabaga is the North American name; swede is used in Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
Sources we checked: UGA Cooperative Extension: Growing rutabagas in the home garden (C942); Iowa State University Extension: Growing turnips and rutabagas in the home garden; Iowa State University Extension: When is the best time to plant rutabagas in Iowa?.
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