When to Plant Rutabaga (Swede) in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Sow January to May. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is January.

Also called swede.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
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 Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra 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.

Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate

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

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Rutabaga (Swede) sowing time in Melbourne?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cool Temperate zone right now, Rutabaga (Swede) included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.1°C (optimal range: 7–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

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

How to Grow Rutabaga (Swede) in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Sow November-February. Harvest April-July. Melbourne's long cool autumn and winter are ideal for swede development.

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)

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Rutabaga (Swede)

Recommended Varieties

  • Purple Top
  • Altasweet
  • Laurentian
  • Virtue
  • Best of All

Key Challenges

  • Clubroot in acidic soils
  • Flea beetle in warm months
  • Brown heart in deficient soils

Pro Tips

  • This is swede's ideal climate in Australia
  • Sow in December-January for the largest roots before winter
  • Leave in ground through frosts for sweetest flavour

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 today.

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 cool temperate zone this September: Ginger, Sweet Corn, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

Get the Full Interactive Guide

Track your garden, get real-time pest alerts, and plan around your zone's weather.

Open the planting dashboard Join Garden Buddy

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 Melbourne?

No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to May. 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.