Rutabagas

Aug 18, 2023 Last reply: 2 years ago 2 Replies

We had a store-bought yellow waxed Rutabaga that sat on the shelf long enough to sprout. So we cut the top off, rooted it in some water and planted it in the garden.



Today, I cut the seeded tops off (new growth has begun to bloom again) and took seeds from the pods. I'm very curious to see what grew underground. Has anybody else done this and do they grow true or are they hybrids? Does anyone know what variety the store-bought ones are?



I've been eating what I thought were turnips for years until I found out they are Rutabagas and that the white purple-topped turnips, I don't really like. They are bitter.


i've not ever seen any other name than rutabaga or swede but i also admit i've not looked.

i think they'll remain true enough but it would also depend upon what other brassicas you grow around them as then you may get some odd crosses happening.

different people have different taste buds as i do not find the purple topped turnips bitter any more than a cabbage, broccoli, or ...

i've grown both and found i liked either, but the purple topped did better.

songbird

Thanks. I have no other brassicas. It was just an experiment and next year I'll have more answers to my questions. But, in truth, I probably only use them once a year in my St. Patrick's Day boiled dinner!

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