How to grow Swede in Australia
Swede, also called rutabaga, is a cool-season member of the cabbage family grown for its large, round root with sweet, golden flesh. It is slower than turnip and needs to swell through cool weather, so it is sown in late summer or autumn in most regions and dug through winter, when frost makes it sweeter.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Swede in Australia
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | March to July | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to July | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | February to May | Sow Feb to May so the roots fill out in the coldest months. Later sowings run into spring warmth and turn woody. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | January to April | Sow Jan to Apr (peak Feb to Mar) so roots bulk up before deep cold. Spring sowings bolt and turn woody. |
| Adelaide & SA | February to June | Sow Feb to Jun so roots size up in the cool. Frost sweetens them, so they are at their best in the Hills. |
| Perth & WA | February to June | Sow Feb to Jun, peak Mar to Apr with the autumn pulse so roots size up in the cool. Frost pockets sweeten them. |
| Tasmania | November to January | Sow Nov to Jan so roots bulk up before winter. Frost makes them sweeter. A Tasmanian classic. |
| Canberra & ACT | January and February | Sow Jan to Feb so roots size up before winter. Frost sweetens them; dig through winter as needed. |
| North Queensland | May to July | Dry season May to Jul. A long cool crop, so very marginal on the coast; better on the Tablelands. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to July | Dry season May to Jul. Long cool crop so very marginal in Darwin. |
Not to be confused with: Turnip, a quicker relative with white flesh and a milder, sharper flavour. Swede has yellow flesh, a sweeter, stronger taste and takes longer to mature.
Where to plant
Swedes need full sun and deep, fertile, well-drained soil. Dig in compost well ahead, and add lime to acid soils, which also helps against clubroot. Avoid fresh manure and heavy feeding: lots of nitrogen gives big leafy tops and small, woody roots.
Timing matters. The roots should swell in cool weather; heat makes them tough and strong tasting, and spring sowings tend to bolt. Rotate with other cabbage-family crops.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: sow from March to July.
- Sydney: sow from February to May so the roots fill out in the coldest months.
- Melbourne: sow from January to April, best in February and March.
- Adelaide and Perth: sow from February to June, best in March and April. Frost sweetens them in the Hills.
- Hobart: sow from November to January so the roots bulk up before winter. Canberra: sow in January and February.
- North Queensland and Darwin: very marginal. Try a May to July sowing in the dry season; the Tablelands suit better than the coast.
How to plant
- Sow seed directly where the plants will grow, in shallow drills about 1 to 2 cm deep and 35 to 40 cm apart.
- Cover lightly and keep the soil moist. Seedlings appear in about a week.
- Thin early, in stages, to 20 to 25 cm apart for full-sized roots, or about 10 cm for smaller roots.
- Firm the soil around the seedlings after thinning.
Watering and feeding
Keep the soil evenly moist all the way through. Swedes left to dry out and then soaked split or turn bitter and woody.
Feed lightly. Compost dug in before sowing is usually enough; add a liquid feed only if growth is slow. Too much fertiliser gives leaves rather than roots.
Pruning and care through the year
- Weed carefully while the plants are small.
- Check the leaves for cabbage white butterfly and cabbage moth caterpillars, and for flea beetle holes on seedlings. Fine insect mesh over hoops keeps them off.
- Mulch to keep moisture steady.
Harvesting
Swedes are ready about 12 to 18 weeks after sowing, depending on the variety and weather. Lift them when they are about 10 to 15 cm across, or pick them smaller as tender baby roots. In cool areas, they can stay in the ground through winter and be dug as needed; frost improves their flavour.
Twist off the leaves and store the roots in a cool, dark place, or in a box of damp sand, for several weeks. They keep a couple of weeks in the fridge.
Growing in pots
Swedes can be grown in a pot at least 30 cm wide and deep. Sow two or three seeds per spot and thin to one, keep the mix evenly moist, and expect smaller roots than in the ground.
Using it
Peel and boil or steam swede, then mash it with butter and pepper, often with carrot or potato. It is also good roasted, in soups, stews and casseroles, and in pasties. The young leaves can be cooked as greens.
Varieties
- Champion Purple Top
- Virtue
Companion planting
Swede likes the same cool-season company as other cabbage-family crops. Keep it away from crops that share its pests or compete for its bed.
Good companions
- Peas A cool-season legume for the same season that adds nitrogen to the soil.
- Lettuce A quick, shallow crop for the gaps while the swedes are small.
- Onion A slim crop that shares the bed without crowding the roots.
- Nasturtium Draws aphids and cabbage white butterflies away from the swedes.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to swede.
- Mustard Another cabbage-family crop that shares the same pests and clubroot. Rotate them rather than growing them together.
- Potato Often listed as a poor neighbour. Potatoes are hungry and need hilling, which disturbs nearby roots.
- Strawberry Commonly kept away from the cabbage family. Give them separate beds.
Pests and diseases
Swedes share the usual cabbage-family pests. Clubroot is the most serious disease.
Pests to watch for
- Cabbage moth Green caterpillars and ragged holes in the leaves in warm weather.
- Flea beetle Many tiny round holes in the leaves of seedlings.
- Aphids Grey, waxy clusters under the leaves, worst in dry weather.
- Slugs Seedlings eaten off and holes chewed into the roots.
Diseases to watch for
- Clubroot Plants wilt on warm days and the roots are swollen and distorted. It persists in soil for years; lime the soil and rotate.
- Powdery mildew White powdery patches on older leaves in dry weather.
- Downy mildew Yellow patches on the leaves with grey fuzz underneath in cool, damp weather.
Common questions
When do you plant swedes in Australia?
In late summer and autumn in most regions, so the roots swell in cool weather: February to May in Sydney, January to April in Melbourne, February to June in Adelaide and Perth, and March to July in South East Queensland. In Hobart sow from November to January. Pick your region at the top of the page for the months.
Why are my swedes all leaves and no root?
Usually too much fertiliser, especially nitrogen, which grows lush tops at the expense of the root. Cut back on feeding and avoid fresh manure. Hot weather and crowding also give small roots, so sow on time and thin early.
Why are my swedes woody or split?
Uneven watering splits the roots, and heat or leaving them too long makes them woody and strong tasting. Keep the soil evenly moist and harvest when they are 10 to 15 cm across.
What is the difference between a swede and a turnip?
Swede has yellow flesh, a sweeter and stronger flavour and takes longer to grow, about 12 to 18 weeks. Turnip is quicker, with white flesh and a sharper taste.
Can swedes stay in the ground over winter?
Yes, in cool areas. They are frost hardy and frost makes them sweeter, so dig them as you need them through winter.
How do I store swedes?
Twist off the leaves and keep the roots in a cool, dark place or packed in damp sand for several weeks, or in the fridge for a couple of weeks.
Sources we checked: Yates: How to grow swede; Gardening Australia: Caterpillars, swedes and turnips; RHS: Swede, grow your own.