Rutabaga, American Purple Top Rutabaga Seeds – Heirloom

Variety Info.:

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.

Sowing Info.:

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″

Growing Info.:

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.