When to Plant Rutabaga (Swede) in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

Sow December to April. Right now in October it is out of season. The next sowing month is December.

Also called swede.

Planting window
Start in trays from December to March, or sow direct in January and February, and plant out up to April. Harvest from March to August. The...
Days to harvest
about 13 weeks
Sunlight
Full sun
Water needs
Consistent deep watering throughout growth. Irregular watering causes woody, fibrous...
Spacing
20cm apart, 40cm between rows
Soil pH
6.0-7.5

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Rutabaga (Swede) guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Rutabaga (Swede)

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Swedes (known as rutabagas in North America) are a large, slow-growing root crop with yellow-orange flesh and a sweet, earthy flavour that improves after frost. They are a cross between cabbage and turnip, requiring cool conditions for best results. An underrated winter staple in Australian cool-temperate gardens.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
S/T/D S/T/D S/T T - - - - - - - S

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.4°C (optimal range: 7–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Rutabaga (Swede) in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

Start in trays from December to March, or sow direct in January and February, and plant out up to April. Harvest from March to August. The cool conditions suit it, but late sowings may run short of season.

Soil
Deep, fertile, well-drained loam enriched with well-rotted compost. Avoid acid soils prone to clubroot. Remove stones which cause misshapen roots.
pH Range
6.0-7.5
Sunlight
Full sun
Spacing
20cm apart, 40cm between rows
Watering
Consistent deep watering throughout growth. Irregular watering causes woody, fibrous roots and can lead to splitting. Water deeply once or twice weekly.

Companion plants: Onion, Garlic, Pea, Nasturtium (trap crop)

Avoid planting near: Strawberry, Other brassicas (clubroot risk)

Grow before, grow after

Rutabaga belongs with the brassicas, the leafy greens and brassicas turn of a four turn bed rotation.

Grow before it
Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Grow after it
Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)

Give the bed 3 turns before brassicas go back in. The cabbage family is hungry for nitrogen and shares club root and other soil diseases.

Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Rutabaga (Swede)

Recommended Varieties

  • Purple Top
  • Laurentian
  • Altasweet

Key Challenges

  • Short growing season
  • Late frosts on seedlings
  • Heavy highland rain causing clubroot

Pro Tips

  • Start early (November) to maximise the growing window
  • Frost actually benefits mature roots. Harvest after first frosts
  • Raised beds help with drainage in wet highland soils

Harvesting Rutabaga (Swede)

When ready: Roots are 8-12cm diameter, with purple/green shoulders visible above soil. Harvest after first frost for sweetest flavour. Roots become woody if left too long (larger than 15cm).

How to harvest: Loosen soil alongside root with a fork. Lift gently. Trim foliage to 2cm. Brush off soil. Do not wash until ready to use.

Worth growing?

A 2.4 m × 1.2 m bed fits 12 plants, about $45 worth at today’s Coles prices, checked on 10 October.

That is roughly 6 kg at $7.50 a kilo.

Draw your rutabaga (swede) bed → No account needed.

Where to next

What rutabaga costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cold and highland zone this October: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Cucumber.

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Common Questions About Rutabaga (Swede)

When do you plant rutabaga in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does rutabaga grow all year round in Canberra?

No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Jan to Apr, Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

What else is rutabaga called?

Rutabaga is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it swede. Same plant, same growing advice.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.