How to Grow Swede in Australia
A cool-season root crop for the home garden
Growing Swede rewards a little local know-how, and in the right season the plants do most of the work for you. It is rated beginner to grow. Saves ~$2-4/week, hearty winter staple that stores well and sweetens after frost.
This guide covers when to plant Swede in your region, the position and soil it likes, how to sow and space it, day-to-day care, the pests and diseases to watch, and how to harvest and store your crop.
When to Plant in Your Region
Swede is a cool-season crop, fully frost-hardy. In subtropical South-East Queensland it is sown in March, April, May, June and July. Timing shifts with your climate, so choose your region below for a local calendar.
Varieties to Try
Champion Purple Top
Classic Australian variety with purple top and cream base. Sweet, dense, golden flesh. The standard swede.
Try: Yates, Mr Fothergill's, Bunnings
Virtue
Modern variety with good clubroot resistance. Smooth skin, excellent flavour. Reliable in Australian gardens.
Try: Mr Fothergill's, Eden Seeds
Position and Soil
Give Swede full sun (at least 6 hours a day). It does best in free-draining soil with a pH around 6 to 7. Dig through plenty of compost before planting, and mulch to hold moisture and keep weeds down. It can be container-grown in 30cm+ deep, though it is happier in the ground.
Sowing and Spacing
Sow seed about 1 cm deep. Thin or space plants to about 25 cm apart. Seedlings usually appear in around 10 days, fastest when the soil is between 10 and 22 degrees.
Cool-season root vegetable that develops sweeter flavour after a frost. Larger and denser than turnip with yellow-orange flesh. Best suited to Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra and Adelaide gardens where cool winters improve sweetness. In SEQ, sow early autumn and harvest before the heat returns. Direct sow, as it dislikes transplanting. Slow-growing but very rewarding.
Care
Water consistently, roughly 5 L per plant every 2 days in warm weather, less in cool or wet spells. Feed every few weeks through the growing season with a balanced organic fertiliser, and keep mulch topped up.
Pests and Diseases
Keep an eye out for Cabbage moth, Aphids and Flea beetle. The main diseases to watch are Clubroot, Powdery mildew and Downy mildew. Good spacing, watering at the base rather than over the leaves, and crop rotation prevent most problems. See our Pest and Disease Guide to identify and fix any issue.
Harvesting and Storage
Swede is typically ready to harvest in around 90 days (about 3 months). Cool dry place for 2-3 weeks. Fridge for up to 1 month.
In the Kitchen
In the kitchen, swede is good mashed with butter and white pepper, roasted in chunks with other root vegetables, added to stews, soups and casseroles and made into a traditional neeps (mashed swede). Nutritionally: good source of vitamin C and potassium and contains glucosinolates with anti-cancer properties.
Companion Planting
Swede grows well alongside Peas, Lettuce, Onion and Nasturtium. Keep it away from Potato, Mustard and Strawberry. Our Companion Planting Guide has the full pairings.
Track Your Swede Growing
Add swede to your garden in the Planting Season app and get reminders for planting, care and harvest, tuned to your region.
Open the App →Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Swede in Australia?
Swede is a cool-season crop. In subtropical regions like South-East Queensland it is sown in March, April, May, June and July. Timing changes with your climate, so use the calendar above for your region.
How long does Swede take to grow?
Swede is generally ready to harvest in around 90 days (about 3 months).
How much sun does Swede need?
Give it full sun (at least 6 hours a day) for the healthiest growth and best harvest.
See also: Swede in the Plant Library
