Rutabaga – American Purple Top

American Purple Top rutabaga produces bluish-green foliage about 45 cm long and a round, two-tone purplish and beige root with smooth, sweet yellow flesh. Harvest after the first frost for superior flavor. Rutabagas, often confused with turnips, are also called Siam cabbage. They can be stored for several months in a cool, dry place.

Growing tips

Conditions of germination:

depth of sowing: 5 mm

optimal temperatures of germination: 15 to 24 ºC

time for germination: 5 to 10 days

When to sow:

direct seeding when the soil can be worked in spring in your area

Sowing technique: in line

Draw a line in the soil (in a pot or in the ground), then sow the seeds in it.

Distance in the garden:

between seeds: 5 cm*

between plants: 15-20 cm

between rows: 45 cm

Height of the plants: 30 cm

Soil: loose, well drained and rich

Exposure: full sun or light shade

Days to harvest: 90 to 110 days

Specificities:

*Thin after germination when seedlings have 3 true leaves or are 5 cm tall. Transplant or eat the removed plants.

If rutabagas are sown before the end of May, protect the plants from cutworms with a floating cover.

QUICK STATS

Number of seeds: ±250

Difficulty: Easy

Type: Heirloom / Open pollinated

Lifecycle:Biennial

Additional information

Weight            5 g

Difficulty         

Easy

Sowing          

Direct

Lifecycle        

Biennial

Root cellar     

Yes

Sowing season        

Spring, Summer