Plant Care Basics
Start growing rutabaga with my simple gardening grow guide! Growing rutabaga is easy, you’ll just need this simple growing guide!
Grow Zone Recommendation: If you need garden ideas for your vegetable garden and live in a cooler weather zone or somewhere up north, you can probably grow rutabaga. If you have warm summers, you can grow versatile rutabaga as a fall crop.
Sunlight Needs: For best results, plant in full sunlight like most of your other vegetable plants. Partial shade can also work fine, however.
Watering Needs: Give your rutabaga at least 1 inch of water per week for the strongest root development. During hot, dry weather, they’ll likely need extra water.
Average Size: Rutabaga grow to about 1 to 3 feet in height and 8 to 12 inches wide.
Foliage Color: Its kale-like, leafy foliage is a vibrant green. The vegetable itself is a pale gold to purple color. Many say they resemble a turnip.
Must Know Plant Care Tips: If you’re impatient, rutabaga may not be for you as they take 3 to 4 months to be ready for harvest. The kale-like foliage is delicious in soups or salads. While the bulbs can grow to the size of a softball or even larger, you’ll get better flavor and texture if you harvest them when they’re just 3 to 5 inches in diameter. Harvest your greens anytime they reach 4 inches or larger; as long as you don’t damage the bulb when cutting them, they’ll grow back. For sweeter rutabaga, don’t harvest until after a little frost has shown itself in the fall.
Plant Problem Solver: These will grow better in slightly acidic soil, with a pH range 6 to 6.5. Fertile soil will prolong your harvest; just make sure it is well drained or you may get rot. When planting from seed, do so in late spring after danger of frost. In warm climates, you can seed in the fall and grow them over the winter. Don’t let your veggies mature over hot weather or you won’t get that sweet flavor. Seeds should planted about 1/2 inch deep. If grown in dry conditions, rutabaga tends to crack.
Pretty Pairings: Plants that do well with this root veggie include onions, chives, peas, and other root vegetables.
