Few Americans eat or grow rutabagas these days. Sometimes called Swedes, these once-loved preserves fell by the wayside as grocery stores and refrigerated shipping moved into the area. We find that these underappreciated ones deserve a place in our garden and food. Here’s why you might want to consider adding your own rutabagas to your home garden this fall. In addition, some growing tips and how to use them well in the kitchen.
Why Grow Rutabagas
Rutabagas may not be a pretty vegetable to look at, but they have a lot going for them! Here are a few things we love about these root crops:
Rutabagas can increase your independence.
If you’re not just gardening for flavor and fun, don’t worry about this! However, we know that many of our homestay customers, environmentalists, and foodies want to produce more of their own food to keep their food local. If that’s you, rutabagas are a great choice. Rutabagas are nutritious staple plants that provide a large amount of nutrients in the area they take up in the garden.
Rutabagas have a good shelf life.
Rutabagas are a great fall plant because, unlike most, they can stay in the ground for a long time before they get pithy. Once harvested, you can store them in the refrigerator or in a root cellar for 4 to 5 months.
Rutabagas are incredibly versatile.
I encourage people to think of rutabagas as their own vegetable instead of a substitute for potatoes. Although they are very well mashed, they do not taste like potatoes. I love them in soups, grated raw in salads, and even in pancakes!
Rutabagas are easy to grow.
Like any crop, rutabagas do best under certain conditions, but we’ve found them to be very forgiving. They are also more cold tolerant than most garden vegetables, allowing you to enjoy a longer season.
How to Grow Rutabagas
Rutabagas are easy plants to grow, but there are a few things to consider when planting, caring for, harvesting, and storing your crop.
Planting
If you’ve ever grown turnips, you probably know how to grow rutabagas; they grow very similar. In the Southeast, we recommend planting rutabagas as a fall crop.
Plant your rutabagas about 8 to 10 weeks before the first estimated frost to give them a head start before the cold weather sets in. Do not sow early. Sustained temperatures above 80°F may cause them to bolt.
Rutabagas prefer full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Ideally, they should receive at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Directly plant your rutabagas in a bed of loose, well-drained soil. If you have heavy clay, add compost and a wide fork to loosen the soil.
Plant the seeds about 1/2 inch deep, 1 inch apart in rows 12 to 16 inches apart.
Taking care of
Pruning is essential in rutabaga care! Rutabagas must be pruned within the first month of growth, or they will not light well. No one enjoys thinning, but if you don’t, it can ruin your harvest. Thin rutabagas to 8 inches apart.
Some people have insect problems with rutabagas in the first few weeks. In this case, we usually recommend a floating line cover. It is a good way to get rid of insects without using pesticides.
Consistent watering is also important for rutabagas. For the best harvest, you never want the soil to dry out. The old rutabaga saying is “When in doubt, water.”
You also want to keep weeds away and mulch around your rutabagas as soon as possible. Mulch will help suppress weeds and keep the soil cool.
Harvesting
Rutabaga greens are sweet, similar to turnip greens. You can harvest them whenever they are big enough. To encourage continuous growth, avoid taking all the leaves from one plant.
Rutabagas can be large, but we recommend harvesting the bulbs when they are 3 to 6 inches in diameter for the best flavor. You can keep them in the ground for a long time in late fall and winter, as their growth is slower in the shorter days and cooler weather. However, you should harvest them before temperatures drop below 20°F.
Storage
After harvesting, you can store your rutabagas in the refrigerator or root pit for up to 5 months.
First, cut the tops 1 inch above the bulb and wash off any loose soil. Allow the rutabagas to dry. If you refrigerate them, you can pack them in bags.
To store them in a root zone or similar space like a garage or basement, pack them in containers of wet sand or sawdust so they don’t touch. It’s not for everyone, but the ideal storage conditions for rutabagas are between 90 and 95% humidity and cool but above freezing.
Using Rutabagas
- Try rutabaga greens this fall instead of turnips or collard greens.
- Make Cornish pasties, a traditional British pastry, often filled with rutabaga.
- Make a traditional jack o’lantern. Rutabagas were carved into Halloween long before pumpkins!
- Bake a rutabaga spice cake with a warm, nutty flavor perfect for fall!
- Try rutabaga noodles with a veggie spiralizer.
- Finally, for homesteaders and small farmers, rutabagas are traditionally used as livestock fodder. They can be a useful crop in years with poor grass yields.
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