American Purple Top Rutabaga Seeds

Heirloom

#0241

This packet sows up to 80 feet.

(7 reviews)

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Availability: In Stock

Rutabaga, or swede, as the British call it, is a 4"-6" long root vegetable with a sweet, mellow flavor. Mash just like potatoes, add chunks to soups and stews, or bake in savory or sweet casseroles. Even the tops are edible and make tasty sautéed greens. Rutabagas develop the best flavor when harvested during cool weather, making an ideal fall crop in most places. A great storage crop.

$1.99 2 grams (~480 seeds)

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Botanical Name: Brassica napus (Napobrassica group)

Days to Maturity: 80–120 days

Family: Brassicaceae

Native: Unknown

Hardiness: Frost-tolerant biennial

Plant Dimensions: Leafy tops grow 16"–20" tall

Variety Information: Best harvested at 4"–6" diameter; root is yellowish with purple shoulders.

When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. Cold Climates: 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, as soon as soil can be worked for early summer harvest, or 3 to 4 months before your first fall frost date for fall harvest. Mild Climates: Sow in fall for late winter for spring harvest. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 60°–80°F

When to Start Inside: Not recommended; root crops do not transplant well.

Days to Emerge: 7–14 days

Seed Depth: ¼"

Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 6"

Row Spacing: 18"–24"

Thinning: When 4" tall, thin to 1 every 6"

Harvesting: Harvest in early summer before consistently high temperatures start or in fall after a few light frosts. Do not allow roots to freeze. The foliage may also be harvested for greens. Harvest only about 25% of the plant's leaves at a time so as not to affect the plant's ability to produce large roots.

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American Purple Top Rutabaga Seeds Reviews

7 reviews

Rutabaga seeds

Jan 29, 2020

I planted these seeds in late August 2019, even though we had extreme heat, even for Houston, in September, several days over 100, the seeds germinated very well. The plants serviced and I had a bumper crop of rutabagas in late November. In fact I still have not harvested all the plants. My first time to plant rutabagas, will not be the last.

Roy Duff from TX

Big, beautiful rutabega!

Oct 1, 2020

This variety of rutabaga grows with ease and I have even found that it is rather drought tolerant in less than ideal soils. When you grow it in more ideal, irrigated soils it gets BIG! Makes lovely leaves and the roots below are large and delicious. Highly recommend!

Cassie from CO

Review for American Purple Top Rutabaga Seeds

Jan 16, 2021

No luck with growing in Houston, TX. Planted in October. Maybe soil needs specific additives. Soil is general fertile.

Brett Babbitt from TX

Owner Response: Hi Brett, Soil temperatures are so important for germination success. It is so important, in fact, we've added to all of our vegetable and herb seed packets and to flowers as we find research to support these ranges. The range for rutabaga is 60 to 80 degrees F to allow seeds to germinate. Rest assured our seeds are tested regularly to ensure germination rates exceed federal and our own standards. A customer service agent will be contacting you to help.

First time planting Rutabagas..Excellent Results

Jan 26, 2021

I had never grown Rutabaga's before so didn't know what to expect. Could not have been more happy with the seed germination and final results. Plants grew amazingly well, flavor is delicious, and the softball sized plant tolerated many cold nights up to the point of harvesting in early November. Don't forget to eat the greens as well. My only regret was that I didn't plant more.

Joe Seger from IL

Good Germination, Very Cold Hardy

Jul 14, 2021

Pretty much all the seeds sprouted, however the roots never got to their full potential size. I don't fault the seed or the cultivar for that. It was actually my fault due to mistiming the planting period, planting too late. Planted in November, harvested in March due to continual snow and frost setbacks. Roots were anywhere from a quarter size to half size what they should be. Still tasted good though. By the time I picked them in March, the foliage had become very large, and absolutely INFESTED with aphids! Yikes. Threw them out quick. Still recommend though.

Wes from NM