Rutabaga Seeds - American Purple Top

Minimum Seeds per Packet: 300

Packet Weight: 2g

Planting Season: Spring or Fall

Sowing Method: Direct Seed

Seed Depth: 1/2"

Direct Seed Spacing: 1"

Soil Temperature: 50-75 ℉

Days to Sprout: 5-20

Mature Spacing: 5"

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Frost Tolerance: Frost Tolerant

Days to Harvest: 90

When to Seed Rutabaga

Rutabagas are a cool season crop that should be planted in spring or fall. For spring rutabagas, sow seeds directly in the garden three weeks before your last frost date. For fall rutabagas, sow seeds directly in midsummer, about sixty days before the first frost date. Fall rutabagas are typically sweeter than spring rutabagas.

Where to Plant Rutabaga

They’ll need a location with full sun, at least six hours of sunlight, if not a little more. Soil that is rich in organic matter and loosened to a depth of 12 to 15 inches will be best. 

Growing Rutabaga

Sow seeds ½ inch deep and one inch apart. Water well until germination. As your seeds grow and mature, thin them to their mature planting distance of five inches. Rutabagas need at least one inch of water per week. Too much water can cause them to rot. 

Harvesting Rutabaga

Mature rutabagas should be ready to harvest seven to ten weeks after planting. If you’re unsure, check the days to harvest information found on the seed packet.

Rutabaga, Brassica napus

Pollination, insect; Life Cycle, biennial; Isolation Distance, ½ mile

Rutabaga is an insect pollinated biennial that doesn't flower and set seed until the following season. Leave ½ mile between what you are growing and any other Brassica napus to prevent crossing. This includes Russian kales among others. After flowers have turned to seed, leave the seeds to mature and dry on the plant as long as possible before gathering. Once plant material is so dry it crumbles at your touch, separate seeds and winnow away chaff before storing.