American Purple Top Rutabaga

The American Purple Top Rutabaga is a pre-1920 open-pollinated heirloom variety that has been a staple in kitchens across the country for over a century. The fall/winter crop produces large, smooth 5-6″ roots with yellow/white skin and deep purple crowns. As compared to other varieties, the American Purple Top Rutabaga has been known to have the best flavor when cooked and will benefit from going through a few frosts to enhance the flavor. Though resembling a turnip, the flesh turns bright orange when cooked and the flavor has more resemblance to that of cabbage and makes a fantastic addition to winter meals. Brassica napus. 90 Days To Maturity.

Rutabagas may be direct-seeded or transplanted. Transplanting allows for more consistent plant spacing and prevents seedlings from competing with weeds in the early stages of the plant. We recommend starting transplants 3-4 weeks before the desired outdoor planting date. Rutabaga transplants grow great in our heavy-duty seed starting trays, where they develop a solid root ball with roots that are trained to grow downward.

Plants are ready to go in the ground when they can be easily pulled from the cells in the seed starting tray. For direct-seeding, we suggest using the #1 seed plate with our Hoss Garden Seeder. It is important to always check the hole size to make sure the seeds can freely flow through the holes. If necessary, drill the holes slightly larger to accommodate the seed.

American Purple Top Rutabaga Planting Information

Planting Method: direct seed or transplant

When to Plant: early spring and fall

Planting Depth: 1/4″

Seed Spacing: 6″

Row Spacing: 12-18″

Days to Maturity: 90

Disease Resistance: None