When to Plant Rutabagas

Rutabagas are a hardy cool-season vegetable. They can take a hard frost.

Sow them outdoors 1 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost. For a fall crop, sow 12 to 15 weeks before the first fall frost. The first harvest comes about 80 to 100 days after sowing.

Example dates

The same rules in dates for three climates, using typical frost dates. Enter your ZIP code above for the dates where you live.

Rutabagas: dates by last spring and first fall frost
TaskLast frost Mar 15first Nov 15Last frost Apr 15first Oct 25Last frost May 15first Sep 30
Sow outdoorsFeb 15 – Mar 8Mar 18 – Apr 8Apr 17 – May 8
HarvestMay 6 – Jun 17Jun 6 – Jul 18Jul 6 – Aug 17
Fall: Sow outdoorsAug 2 – 23Jul 12 – Aug 2Jun 17 – Jul 8
Fall: HarvestOct 21 – Dec 2Sep 30 – Nov 11Sep 5 – Oct 17

Growing rutabagas

Rutabaga is at its best sown in early summer for fall, when light frosts sweeten the roots.

  • Spacing: 6 in apart, in rows 18 in apart. In a raised bed, 4 per sq ft at square-foot spacing.
  • Days to harvest: 80 to 100 from sowing, then about 6 weeks of picking.
  • Rotation: rutabagas are in the cabbage family. Plant them where nothing from that family grew in the last two years. See crop rotation.
  • Traditional companions: edamame, fava bean. See companion plants for rutabagas.

Plan your beds with these dates

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Questions

Can rutabagas go in before the last frost?

Yes. Rutabagas are hardy: sow them 1 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost.

How long do rutabagas take to grow?

About 80 to 100 days from sowing to the first harvest, which then lasts about 6 weeks. Varieties differ: check the seed packet.

Can I grow rutabagas in fall?

Yes. Sow 12 to 15 weeks before the first fall frost. Enter your ZIP code above for the dates where you live.

More planting dates

Sources

  1. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal, by station: freeze dates at 32 °F)
  2. Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech: Virginia's Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide: Recommended Planting Dates and Amounts to Plant (426-331 / SPES-673P, 2025)
  3. University of Maryland Extension: Vegetable Planting Calendar for central Maryland
  4. UNH Cooperative Extension: Growing Vegetables: When to Plant your Vegetable Garden (2016)
  5. NC State Extension: Extension Gardener Handbook, Chapter 16: Vegetable Gardening
  6. WSU Extension: Pacific Northwest Gardener's Handbook, Chapter 7: Vegetable Gardening
  7. Iowa State: Fall Planting of Vegetables
  8. Iowa State: Early Spring Planting of Vegetables
  9. Iowa State: Growing Turnips and Rutabagas in the Home Garden
  10. Montana State University Extension: Can I Grow That Here? Vegetable Seed and Transplant Schedules (MontGuide MT199308AG, rev. 2018)
  11. Oregon State University Extension Service: Companion Planting (Food Hero, 2021)