How to Grow Rutabaga Laurentian

Rutabaga Laurentian

Brassica napus subsp. rapifera

vegetable

Rutabaga Laurentian is a cold-hardy root vegetable with a sweet, mild flavor and creamy yellow flesh. It's a cool-season crop that produces large, globe-shaped roots with purple-tinged tops and is prized for its storage quality and reliability in northern climates. This heirloom variety is particularly valued for its uniform shape, excellent taste, and disease resistance.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily

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Water: Consistent moisture, 1-1.5 inches per week; keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Inconsistent watering can cause splitting and bitter flavor.

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Spacing: 6-8 inches

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Days to maturity: 90-100

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Planting depth: 0.5 inches

Soil

Type: Well-draining, fertile loamy soil

pH: 6.0-7.5

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure Balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) Lime if soil is too acidic Peat moss for moisture retention

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Zones 2-7, thrives in cool climates; can grow in zone 8 with late-season planting

2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a

Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny seedlings with 2-4 leaves emerge 7-10 days after planting. First true leaves are rounded and smooth.

Thin seedlings to proper spacing once they develop true leaves. Keep soil consistently moist and protect from direct afternoon sun if just started indoors.

Vegetative Growth

4-6 weeks

Plant develops dense rosette of large, blue-green leaves with prominent veining. The root begins to swell underground.

Maintain consistent watering and fertilize every 3-4 weeks with balanced fertilizer. Remove any diseased or damaged leaves. Thin if necessary.

Root Development

4-6 weeks

Root expands rapidly beneath soil surface, becoming globe-shaped and developing the characteristic purple shoulder and yellow body.

Continue regular watering and fertilization. Keep weeds under control. Mulch around base to retain moisture and keep roots cool. Roots become visible at soil surface—this is normal.

Maturation

2-3 weeks

Root reaches full size (4-5 inches diameter), skin hardens, and leaves may begin to yellow slightly.

Reduce nitrogen fertilizer to prevent excessive leaf growth. Continue watering regularly but avoid overwatering. Monitor for pest damage.

Harvest Ready

Variable; can stay in ground until needed

Root is firm, properly sized, and skin has hardened. Foliage may show signs of aging or frost sensitivity.

Ready to harvest. Can remain in ground in cool weather for extended storage in place. Harvest before first hard freeze or store indoors.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Carrot Onion Beet Lettuce Spinach Pea Potato Bean Marigold Nasturtium

Avoid planting near:

Tomato Pepper Fennel Strawberry Other Brassicas (within same season)

Common Pests

Use floating row covers, apply beneficial nematodes to soil, use collars around base to prevent egg-laying, practice crop rotation
Use row covers, apply neem oil or insecticidal soap, plant in cooler season to avoid peak activity, encourage native predators
Spray with strong water jet, use insecticidal soap, apply neem oil, encourage ladybugs and lacewings
Practice 4-year crop rotation, lime soil to raise pH above 7.0, choose disease-resistant varieties, avoid waterlogged soil
Ensure good air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply sulfur dust, remove infected leaves

Uses

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Roasting & Mashing

Culinary

Rutabaga Laurentian has a naturally sweet, creamy flavor that intensifies when roasted or mashed. It's excellent roasted with other root vegetables, mashed as a side dish, or blended into soups. [source]

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Winter Storage Staple

Culinary

This variety is exceptionally long-storing, making it ideal for winter eating. The roots keep for months in root cellars or cool storage without significant quality loss. [source]

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Nutritional & Antioxidant Benefits

Medicinal

Rutabagas are rich in vitamin C, fiber, and glucosinolates—sulfur-containing compounds with potential anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting properties. They support digestive health and immunity. [source]

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Animal Feed & Silage

Household

Rutabaga roots and tops are nutritious livestock feed, used whole or chopped for cattle, sheep, and poultry. [source]

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Pollinator & Beneficial Insect Support

Wildlife

If allowed to bolt, rutabaga flowers attract beneficial insects and pollinators. The seed heads provide food for birds. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Harvest when roots are 3-5 inches in diameter, typically 90-100 days after planting. Harvest in fall after light frosts improve sweetness. Grasp leaves and pull steadily, or loosen soil with a garden fork before pulling. For storage, leave 1-2 inches of stem and trim roots. Store in cool (32-40°F), humid location for 4-5 months.

Fun Facts

🌱 Rutabaga Laurentian is an heirloom variety developed in Quebec and was once the dominant rutabaga in northern North America—it has been grown since the early 1900s.
🌱 Rutabagas are a swede (Brassica napus), distinct from turnips (Brassica rapa); they have yellow flesh and are sweeter, while turnips are smaller with white flesh.
🌱 A light frost actually improves rutabaga sweetness by converting starches to sugars, making fall-harvested Laurentians particularly delicious.

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