Rutabaga is a brassica crop grown for the large oval bulb it produces. It has a sweet and earthy taste and the bulbs are highly nutritious, with lots of vitamins and antioxidants. The crop can be harvested throughout summer and fall.
You want to harvest rutabaga at the right time as this avoids the root getting woody and bitter. When it comes to flavor, timing is key and, when growing rutabaga in fall, it can be improved by a few touches of frost. Rutabaga is a crop I grew annually for chefs working as a professional kitchen gardener in the UK.
The roots were lifted at their peak and delivered to restaurants for use in dishes. It was important to harvest rutabaga at the right time, before the flavor diminished - and carefully, to avoid any crops getting damaged. Harvest rutabaga before they get too large I have harvested many rutabaga over the years and learnt the importance of keeping a close eye on the size and lifting them properly.
Here are a few lessons I have picked up, with extra advice from some experienced vegetable growers, to help you get a premium harvest of rutabaga. When to harvest rutabaga Rutabaga have a long growing season Rutabaga are vegetables that can be planted in spring or summer. Planting the vegetable in May can give you a summer crop while a sowing in summer means a second harvest come fall.
To ensure a good harvest, keep plants well-watered as stress from a lack of watering can make the rutabaga woody and bitter. Katie Burdett , garden expert and ow.