GrowSabzHow to grow rutabaga in pots
Also called swede, neep, swedish turnip, turnip cabbage · Brassica napobrassica
شلجم
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 6–8hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 1.3 Levery 3 days, 15 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 13–20°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 15 L30 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 90–110days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 3 kgper 20 L pot
Rutabaga grows well in containers given the right depth, consistent water and enough sun. From sowing to harvest takes about 100 days. The sections below cover the whole cycle — container size, exact watering amounts, feeding, what to watch for, and when to pick.
Short answer
Grow rutabaga in a 15 litre container at least 30 cm deep, watering about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil every 3 days, and keep temperatures between 13 and 20 °C. First harvest comes 90–110 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does rutabaga need?
15 litres and 30 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 15 L | 30 cm | Ensure good drainage and consistent moisture. |
| Grow bag | 15 L | 30 cm | Fabric bags help with aeration. |
| Open ground | — | 25 cm | Requires well-drained, fertile soil. |
| Raised bed | 20 L | 30 cm | Excellent for controlling soil conditions. |
Watering
How often should you water rutabaga?
Every 3 days through the growing season, at about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil — every 2 days in hot weather, every 4 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Soaker hose or drip irrigation works best.
Too little water
- wilting leaves
- stunted root growth
- cracked roots
Too much water
- yellowing leaves
- soft roots
- root rot
Avoid: fluctuating moisture; standing water; overhead watering in late evening.
Climate
Can you grow rutabaga where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 13 – 20 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | -5 – 28 °C |
| Germinates above | 7 °C — best at 18 °C, about 7 days |
| Flowers drop | above 25 °C |
| Sunlight | 6–10 hrs/day, best 8 |
| Frost | Low sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 28 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for rutabaga? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Rutabaga growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for rutabaga
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why rutabaga fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 15 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Rutabaga wants about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 25 °C flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Harvesting too late
Left too long the colour changes, seeds harden and the flavour sharpens. Pick on the signs listed below, not on the calendar.
- Planting it beside Strawberry
Competes for nutrients and can attract slugs, which may also damage rutabaga.
Companions
What to plant with rutabaga
Good neighbours
Repels flea beetles and cabbage moths, common pests of rutabaga.
Deters cabbage moths, carrot rust fly, and other brassica pests with its strong aroma.
Believed to improve the growth and flavor of nearby plants, acting as a 'nurse plant'.
Emits a strong scent that deters aphids, slugs, and other common pests.
Fix nitrogen in the soil, which can benefit rutabaga's leafy growth and overall vigor.
Roots produce a chemical that kills root-knot nematodes, and flowers repel other harmful insects.
Keep apart from
Competes for nutrients and can attract slugs, which may also damage rutabaga.
Can stunt the growth of rutabaga and compete for essential nutrients.
Can be too vigorous and outcompete rutabaga for light, water, and nutrients.
Attracts similar pests and diseases, increasing the risk of infestation for rutabaga.
Can inhibit the growth of rutabaga due to allelopathic effects or strong competition.
Problems
Rutabaga pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Clubroot humidity >70% · temp 18-25 · soil_pH <6.5
Fungal disease causing swollen, distorted roots, leading to stunted growth and wilting. Prevalent in acidic soils.
Cabbage Worms Loopers humidity any · temp >15
Green caterpillars that chew large holes in leaves, often leaving behind frass. Can quickly defoliate plants.
Flea Beetles humidity any · temp >18
Small, jumping beetles that create numerous tiny holes (shot-hole effect) in leaves, especially on young plants.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and undersides of leaves, sucking sap and secreting sticky honeydew.
Downy Mildew humidity >90% · temp 10-20
Causes yellow spots on the upper surface of leaves and fuzzy, grayish-purple growth on the undersides. Can stunt growth.
Black Rot humidity >80% · temp 20-30
Bacterial disease causing V-shaped yellow lesions on leaf margins that turn brown/black, and blackening of veins. Can spread systemically.
Boron Deficiency humidity any · temp any · soil_pH >7.0
Causes internal browning, hollow heart, and cracking in the roots. Leaves may be stunted or discolored.
Scab humidity any · temp any · soil_pH >6.0
Causes rough, corky, or pitted spots on the surface of the rutabaga roots, reducing quality.
Harvest
When to harvest rutabaga
First picking falls between day 90 and day 110.
How to tell it's ready
- Roots are 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) in diameter
- Firm and smooth skin
- Tops may show slight yellowing
How much to expect
Storing it: Cool, moist conditions (e.g., root cellar, refrigerator crisper drawer) for several months.
Questions
Rutabaga: common questions
How long does rutabaga take to grow?
About 100 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 90 and day 110. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does rutabaga need?
At least 15 litres and 30 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 20 litres of soil and 30 cm of depth.
How often should I water rutabaga?
About 700 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 3 days in normal weather — every 2 days when it is hot and every 4 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does rutabaga need?
It does best between 13 °C and 20 °C and survives from -5 °C to 28 °C. Seed needs soil above 7 °C to germinate, ideally around 18 °C.
Can I grow rutabaga in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about -5 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when rutabaga is ready to harvest?
Roots are 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) in diameter; Firm and smooth skin; Tops may show slight yellowing. Once picked: cool, moist conditions (e.g., root cellar, refrigerator crisper drawer) for several months.
How much does one rutabaga plant produce?
Roughly 3 kg from a 20 litre container, or about 6 kg in open ground. Larger containers give proportionally more, up to a point.