How to Grow Rutabaga Seeds
Rutabagas belong to the genus Brassica, which includes common winter vegetables such as cabbages, turnips and Brussels sprouts. The large, fleshy tubers are prepared and eaten much like turnips, but they are less starchy with a sweeter flavor and smoother texture. Rutabagas can be grown from seed in spring and late summer, depending on the time of year you wish to harvest. The roots taste sweetest when grown during cool weather, so it is best to plant in late summer, about 12 weeks before the first hard frost in autumn. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Choose a bedding site suited to rutabagas. Select a partially shaded spot in warm climates or full sun in cooler climates. Avoid areas with heavy or boggy soil since the roots will be badly formed or damaged by such conditions.
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Weed and clean the bed thoroughly before cultivating the soil. Remove all unwanted vegetation, as well as any sticks, rocks and debris that are present.
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Work the soil at the bedding site using a rotary tiller set to cultivate at a depth of 12 inches. Make multiple passes over the bed to loosen the soil and break up any compacted areas.
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Spread a 4-inch-deep layer of medium-grit sand and a 5-inch-deep layer of compost across the bed. Incorporate the amendments into the soil to a depth of 12 inches using the rotary tiller. Keep working the soil until it has a light, friable texture and uniform appearance.
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Water the bed thoroughly before sowing the rutabaga seeds. Shower the bed with a garden hose until the soil feels moist at a depth of 4 inches. Let the water drain and distribute throughout the soil for 10 to 15 minutes.
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Mark out 1/2-inch-deep furrows across the bed using the tip of a pointed hoe. Space the rows 12 inches apart in smaller beds or 24 inches apart in larger beds.
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Sprinkle the rutabaga seeds into the 1/2-inch-deep furrows. Aim for dropping one seed per inch of space along the furrow. Push the soil in on top of the seeds so they are completely covered. Firm the soil gently.
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Water the rutabaga seeds whenever the top inch of soil dries out, about every three days under normal weather conditions. Avoid keeping the soil excessively soggy during germination.
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Watch for sprouting in four to seven days. Thin the rutabaga seedlings to one every six inches once they grow to 4 inches in height.
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Continue to water the rutabaga seedlings when the top inch of soil dries out. Harvest the roots about 95 days after sowing.
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Tips & Warnings
Rutabaga seeds germinate most reliably at 60 degrees Fahrenheit, but they will also sprout in temperatures ranging from 40 to 80 F.
