Rutabaga
Rutabaga (Brassica napus subsp. rapifera) is a plant. It grows best in full sun and has moderate water needs.
About Rutabaga
Rutabaga is an annual plant that grows 1.2 m tall. It is self-fertile, so you only need one.
The flowers attract pollinators.
How to plant rutabaga
Rutabaga does best in full sun, but also copes with part shade. It grows in sandy soil, loam and clay, as long as the soil is well drained. It does best at a pH of 5.5–8.3. It does not tolerate frost, so wait until the frosts are over before planting out. In a forest garden it belongs in the herb layer.
Plant plants 30 cm apart, at least 15 cm. It struggles in compacted soil, so keep the soil loose.
A year with Rutabaga
Spring. Sow seed in March–August.
Summer. It has yellow flowers in July–September.
Pests and diseases
Rutabaga can be attacked by brassica pod midge (dasineura brassicae), cabbage seed weevil (ceutorhynchus assimilis), cabbage stem weevil (ceutorhynchus pallidactylus), cabbage stem flea beetle (psylliodes chrysocephala), rape stem weevil (ceutorhynchus napi) and pollen beetles. Diseases include canker, light leaf spot (pyrenopeziza brassicae), alternaria stem rot, sclerotinia stem rot, blackleg (leptosphaeria maculans/phoma lingam) and verticillium wilt.
Companions and wildlife
RutabagaThe family
Rutabaga is a variety of Rapeseed, in the genus Brassica. Open a species to see what lies under it.
Rutabagasubsp. rapiferaThis page
Sources
Added to the wiki 12 October 2026
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