How to Grow Rutabaga: Planting, Spacing, Care & Harvest

Quick answer

Fall sow about 100 days before first frost (Illinois). Footnote: UGA seeds 2½ to 3 months before a heavy frost (about −12 to −10). Prefer fall crop; about 90–110 days planting to harvest (ISU).

Rutabaga at a glance

PlantFall sow: 14 wk before last frost
SunFull sun; fertile well-drained; steady moisture (ISU about 1–1½ in/week).
SpacingIllinois: ½ inch deep; rows 12–24 inches; thin to 6 inches when seedlings are 2 inches tall.
Days to harvest100–110 days (Clemson)
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■ Start indoors   ■ Plant out   ■ Harvest
Weeks relative to last frost (LF). Colored weeks show when our ZIP planner schedules each step.
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Planting dates for your ZIP: the ZIP planting planner counts each window from your local frost dates.

Organic pests and diseases: see also organic pest control. Use any product as the label directs.

Rutabaga (Brassica napus, Napobrassica group) — cool-season root. Distinct from turnip (B. rapa); needs a longer season and is usually fall-preferred.

Rutabaga roots
Rutabaga roots. Photo: Miwok, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (resized).

Planting timing

Illinois Extension: “For fall harvest, plant rutabagas about 100 days before the first frost.” Prefer fall crop (needs ~4 weeks longer than turnips). (Illinois turnip/rutabaga) Footnote: UGA: seed 2½ to 3 months before a heavy frost (about−12 to −10); spring possible when soil is workable. (UGA rutabagas) Iowa State: 90–110 days planting to harvest; best as a summer sow for fall crop. Planner primary: Fall sow first frost −14 (Illinois ~100 days). Direct sow only.

Depth and spacing

Illinois: ½ inch deep; rows 12–24 inches; thin to 6 inches when seedlings are 2 inches tall. ISU: ¼–½ inch; rows 18–24 inches; thin to 6 inches. Prefer Illinois/ISU 6 inches for rutabaga roots over closer cole-crop table spacings.

Sun, soil and water

Full sun; fertile well-drained; steady moisture (ISU about 1–1½ in/week). Cool weather for best roots (USU: root development prefers <~75°F).

Care

Fall crop preferred in most of the U.S. (Illinois/USU/ISU). Light frosts sweeten roots (ISU). Clubroot: rotate away from brassica spots for years.

Harvest

ISU: best at about 4–5 inches diameter after several light frosts; 90–110 days. Store 32–35°F, high humidity, about 2–4 months. Illinois: medium size 3–5 inches diameter best quality.

Pests and diseases

Cole-crop suite: slugs, aphids, cutworms, loopers, flea beetles; clubroot (NC/Clemson pattern). Organic: row cover; Bt/spinosad for caterpillars as labeled (UMN); iron phosphate / handpick slugs (UC IPM). See also organic pest control.

Related: turnips · ZIP planner · organic pest control

Frequently asked questions

When do I sow rutabaga for fall?

About 100 days before first frost (Illinois). UGA allows 2½–3 months before heavy frost (−12 to −10).

Same as turnip?

No — longer season; usually fall-only; yellowish flesh (Clemson/Illinois).

Days to harvest?

About 90–110 days (Iowa State).

More grow guides: All grow guides

Sources