- Look for rutabagas that feel heavy for their size with smooth, heavy and firm roots.
- The skin should be free of major damage although smaller cuts around the top are natural.
- Smaller rutabagas (4 inches in diameter or less) tend to have a sweeter flavor than larger varieties.
How do you know when to harvest rutabaga?
Rutabagas will be ready to harvest approximately 90-110 days after sowing, and they taste best if harvested after a few light frosts. You can begin harvesting when roots are 2 to 3 inches in diameter; smaller roots will be especially tender and succulent.
Can rutabaga get too big?
Rutabagas are ready for harvest 90 to 110 days after sowing. Harvest rutabagas when the tops are 3 to 5 inches in diameter. If allowed to get too big, rutabagas will become tough and fibrous. Harvest rutabaga greens young and tender.
What month do you harvest rutabagas?
Rutabaga is a different species, Brassica napus. Harvest rutabagas when they have grown through summer into fall. They are typically harder and denser than turnips.
What does a good rutabaga look like?
Look for rutabagas that are large and round, with a thick, smooth, hard skin that needs to be peeled before eating. They should have firm roots and feel heavy for their size. If there are leaves attached they should be smooth and waxy.
Can you eat rutabaga raw?
You can enjoy rutabagas raw or cook them similarly to how you cook potatoes, but be sure to peel the skin, as these vegetables usually have a protective wax coating. Meanwhile, its leaves can be added to salads or soups. Rutabagas have a pleasant sweet and slightly bitter flavor.
How long will a rutabaga last?
Given suitable conditions, temperatures of 32 to 35 degrees F. (0-2 C.) and relative humidity at or around 90 to 95 percent, rutabaga storage can last anywhere from one to four months. Rutabagas store well in the refrigerator, as this can often provide the most optimal temperature and humidity conditions.
What part of rutabaga do you eat?
They are large and round, with a thick, smooth, hard skin that needs to be peeled before eating, and should feel heavy for their size. The leaves can also be eaten, prepared in the same way as turnip tops or other hearty greens. Rutabagas are used in all sorts of cuisines, from Scandinavian to British to American.
Can you eat the leaves of a rutabaga?
Although grown primarily for their roots, the leaves of rutabaga are also edible, adding zest to salads. Pick younger leaves, never removing more than a few leaves per root. Begin harvesting rutabaga roots when they're 3 to 5 inches in diameter, about the size of a grapefruit.
Can you freeze rutabaga without blanching?
Can you freeze rutabagas? Yes, to freeze: (1) Wash, peel and cut into 1/2-inch cubes; (2) Blanch (plunge into boiling water) for two minutes and chill quickly in ice cold water; (3) Drain off excess moisture, package in airtight containers or freezer bags and freeze immediately.
Why are my rutabagas bitter?
Plainly speaking, if a rutabaga is cut improperly, it can taste quite bitter – and that, unfortunately, is the way many folks have had rutabaga and it has been given a bad rap, so to speak.
How do you make rutabagas easier to cut?
Microwave for a few minutes. Make a few small holes with a fork or the tip of a sharp knife, then heat the rutabaga in the microwave for two to three minutes. By heating the rutabaga, the flesh will soften somewhat, making both cutting and peeling easier.
Are rutabagas healthier than potatoes?
Are rutabagas better than potatoes? That depends because each vegetable has unique health benefits and nutrients. However if you're looking at it from a weight loss perspective, rutabagas are lower in both calories and carbs.
How to Harvest Rutabagas
Pull or lift roots carefully from the garden so as not to break or injure them. Use a garden hand fork to loosen the soil around the roots if necessary.
How to Store Rutabagas
Twist off the greens after lifting the roots. Removing the tops before storage will greatly extend storage life.
Storing Rutabagas in the Garden
Store rutabagas in the garden by insulating the soil from freezing; keep the soil 35° to 40°F (2°-4° C) by putting a 10- to 12-inch-thick layer of leaves, hay, or straw mulch over the rows; extend the mulch on both sides of each row by another 18 inches or more. Mulching will protect roots even beneath two feet of snow.
When and How to Harvest Rutabagas
Rutabaga plants require 90-110 days to mature. They need at least four weeks longer to mature than turnips do. Rutabagas can usually be pulled from the ground quite easily but care should still be taken not to bruise them in any way to avoid issues with rotting later.
Rutabaga Storage
Unused rutabagas need to be stored immediately following harvesting. Trim off foliage to about an inch of the crown. Wipe the roots clean but avoid getting them wet, as this can lead to mildew and rotting.
How to choose ripe rutabagas
Look: A ripe rutabaga will usually have purple-tinged skin. If you scratch the skin slightly you should see yellow flesh beneath. Stay away from rutabagas that are bruised or blemished. And toss that rutabaga back if you notice any green shoots coming out of it, which typically means it’s overripe.
Preparation tips
Don’t bite into that rutabaga as soon as you bring it home! Rutabagas are often sold with a food-grade wax coating on them. This keeps them from drying out while they’re stored during the winter months, but it’s definitely not tasty! Using a paring knife, cut off the top and bottom of the rutabaga so it has a flat surface to stand on.
How to store
Rutabagas are a very hardy vegetable. They should last about a week when left out at room temperature or for several weeks if refrigerated. Consider freezing if you want to enjoy them all year long. Just chop into cubes, blanch for 3 minutes in a pot of boiling water, drain and cool, then package in an airtight container.
Recipe ideas
Savory: For a savory meal, dice up your rutabagas and cook them alongside pork tenderloin and diced carrots. You can also mash your rutabagas with potatoes and lemon or add diced rutabagas to your favorite pot pie recipe.
When to Harvest
Rutabagas will be ready to harvest approximately 90-110 days after sowing, and they taste best if harvested after a few light frosts.
How to Harvest
Harvest when the soil is dry. Lift or pull roots carefully from the ground, taking care not to break or bruise them.
Storage Requirements and Methods
It is important to properly store these root vegetables as soon as possible upon harvest, to maximize their storage potential.
Cooking Tips and Recipes
Though similar to and often confused with turnips, rutabagas have a sweeter flavor.
Get Creative with Homegrown Rutabaga
With these tips in mind, you will find that harvesting, storing, and enjoying your rutabaga crop is easy and fun.
How to Grow Rutabaga
Remember that these plants are not much different from turnips. The difference is that the roots are larger, firmer, and rounder than turnip roots and the leaves on the rutabaga are smoother.
Planting Rutabaga
When planting rutabaga, throw the seed down in the prepared soil and rake it in lightly. Plant the seeds at a rate of three to twenty seeds per row and rake them about half an inch (1 cm.) deep. Allow enough room to put one or two feet (31-61 cm.) between rows. This allows space for the roots to plump up and form rutabagas.
Harvesting Rutabagas
When harvesting rutabagas, pick them when they are tender and mild. Growing rutabagas are ready for harvest when they are about medium sized. Harvesting rutabagas when they are about 3 to 5 inches (8-13 cm.) in diameter will yield the best quality rutabagas.
How to Select Rutabagas
Look for rutabagas that feel heavy for their size with smooth, heavy and firm roots.
How to Store Rutabagas
Store rutabagas are room temperature for up to 1 week or in an unsealed plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Rutabaga Varieties
You can find several rutabaga varieties to grow in your garden. Here are a few of the most popular picks.
How to Plant Rutabaga
Did you know that rutabagas are part of the brassica family? It makes sense because they’re a blend of cabbage and turnips. That doesn’t mean you grow them just like cabbages, but they do prefer similar temperatures and conditions.
How to Care for Rutabaga s
Once planted, caring for rutabagas centers around keeping the ground moist and weed-free. You can fertilize throughout the season for maximum growth. Caring for these crops is almost as easy as learning how to grow rutabaga.
Common Pests & Diseases
This fungal disease destroys a wide variety of plants. It usually shows up as spots on a plant that turns from yellow to black with yellow halos. These lesions can turn necrotic and can kill off the entire plant.
Harvesting and Storing Rutabaga s
Rutabagas are primarily grown for their roots, but the leaves of the rutabaga plants are edible as well. You can add them to salads and soups for a bit of zest. You can remove a few leaves from each growing rutabaga, but make sure you leave more than a few leaves left per root. Once you harvest, don’t toss all the greens.
The Last Word
Rutabagas aren’t a popular root crop in the United States, and that’s a shame. Gardener in Europe have grown them for decades in their vegetable gardens, and their popularity is finally moving over to the United States.
What Types and Varieties of Rutabaga can you grow?
First of all, you have to decide what rutabaga variety you want to grow. I listed the most popular ones for you below:
When should you plant Rutabagas?
The best time to start growing rutabaga is between March and April in most countries with moderate climatic conditions.
How long does it take to grow Rutabagas from Seed to Harvest?
It will take between 70 and 100 days to grow rutabagas from seed to harvest.
What is the best Climate to grow Rutabagas?
Rutabaga prefers moderate to cool climatic zones to grow in an optimal manner.
What Temperatures does Rutabaga like?
Rutabagas grow best with daytime temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
What Plants should you grow with your Rutabagas?
If you want to learn more about what plants to grow next to your rutabagas, make sure to check out the best and worst rutabaga companion plants.
What do you need to grow Rutabagas?
There is some equipment you need to grow rutabagas in the best possible manner. This includes:
