How to Grow Rutabaga

Beginner-Friendly

Brassica napus subsp. rapifera

A large, sweet root vegetable — a natural cross between turnip and wild cabbage. Sweeter and more nutritious than turnip. Stores exceptionally well through winter. Flavour improves after hard frost.

Last updated: June 2026

Days to Maturity
80–100 days
typical
Per Square Foot
4
Plant Spacing
20 cm / 8"
Sun
6+ hours
Water
1.0" / 25 mm
Fertilization
moderate feeder

Growing Notes

Direct sow in midsummer (90–100 days before first hard frost). Thin to final spacing. Harvest after several hard frosts for sweetest flavour. Stores for months in cool conditions (0–4 °C).

Popular Varieties

1 rutabaga cultivars in our catalog.

American Purple Top Rutabaga
90–100 days Open-Pollinated
Harvest
once
Seed viability
4 years

Square Foot Spacing

4 per sq ft

6" apart (2×2 grid)

View full spacing chart →

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