How to grow rutabaga
Brassica napus (Napobrassica) · Brassicaceae · Vegetable
When to plant rutabagas: the short answer
For a fall crop, sow about 14 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F, fastest near 70°F.
Cold winters (zone 5): sow -, or sow Jun 19 – Jul 6 for a fall crop. Mild winters (zone 9): sow Aug 14 – Aug 31 for fall and winter harvests; the spring window (-) closes before the summer heat. Skip the hottest months for rutabagas. See every zone.
Rutabaga is a cool-season vegetable in the Brassicaceae family, almost always sown straight into the ground where it will grow. It wants full sun, though it tolerates a little afternoon shade in hot regions and steady, even moisture. From sowing to first pick is about 90–100 days. It is one of the toughest crops here, standing through hard frost and often improving for it.
Grower’s note: A long-season fall root: sow in early-to-mid summer so the bulk of its growth happens in cool weather. Frost sweetens it and it stores for months in a cold, humid place.
Sowing
Sow about 0.5″ deep, into soil between 45–85°F — germination is quickest near 70°F. It comes up fast (4–10 days). It does not transplant well, so sow it in its final position rather than starting it in pots.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 8″ along the row with roughly 18″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 4 per square foot. Allow at least 15″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 12″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
As a cool-season crop, rutabaga does its best growing in the mild weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat. A second sowing in late summer, timed to mature as the weather cools, is usually the better crop of the year — and light frost only sweetens it.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long rutabagas take to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 90-100 days (13-14 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 4-10 days in soil around 70°F.
When to plant rutabaga
When to plant rutabagas by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Fall or second sowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | - | - | May 30 – Jun 16 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | - | - | Jun 9 – Jun 26 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | - | - | Jun 19 – Jul 6 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | - | - | Jun 29 – Jul 16 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | - | - | Jul 9 – Jul 26 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | - | - | Jul 20 – Aug 6 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | - | - | Aug 14 – Aug 31 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | - | - | Aug 29 – Sep 15 |
Companions
Pea, Onion
Potato, Turnip
Common problems
Pests: flea beetle, cabbage root maggot, aphids.
Diseases & disorders: clubroot, downy mildew.
Same family (Brassicaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant rutabagas?
For a fall crop, sow about 14 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long do rutabagas take to grow?
About 90-100 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 4-10 days, fastest in soil around 70°F.
How much sun do rutabagas need?
They need six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough.
What soil pH do rutabagas need?
A soil pH between 5.5 and 7.0. It tolerates fairly acidic soil better than most vegetables. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant rutabagas?
Space plants about 8 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart, or 4 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ½ inch deep.
Can I grow rutabagas in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 12 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.