bitter rutabagas. howcum?

[Dennis Edward]

Just harvested some rutabagas (Laurentian). Unfortunately, they tasted bitter when cooked. What could cause this? Any suggestions?

[Pat Kiewicz]

Rutabagas should be grown as a fall crop, so they mature in cool weather (or grown in northern regions which don't have very hot summers). Next time, plant late in June or in early July so the rutabagas mature in the fall.

As for the ones you have now... YOu could try adding some sugar to them when cooking. Maybe seeing if they will hold until cooler weather in the hope that a frost will sweeten them up a bit.