American Purple Top, Rutabaga

American Purple Top Rutabaga Seed

Purple-crowned roots deliver sweet earthy winter flavor
Creamy yellow flesh becomes tender when cooked
Cool weather supports reliable ninety-day development
Excellent roasted, mashed, or simmered in stews

See product details

Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Brassica napus

Days to maturity

95 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

200 Seeds

About American Purple Top, Rutabaga Seed, Rutabaga Seed

American Purple Top rutabaga is a classic root vegetable known for its striking appearance and robust flavor. This variety features a round, bulbous shape with a creamy yellow flesh and a distinctive purple crown on the top, making it visually appealing in the garden and on the plate. Traditionally grown in North America, American Purple Top rutabagas have a slightly sweet and earthy taste, with a texture that becomes tender when cooked. Rich in nutrients, this versatile vegetable can be enjoyed roasted, mashed, or added to soups and stews, adding depth and flavor to a variety of culinary creations.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/4"

Days to Germination

3–10 days

In-row plant spacing

4-8"

Row Spacing

18-24"

Plant profile

Maturity

Fall, Winter

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

24 inches

Growth Habits

Rosette, Upright

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

13,750

Seed Type

Open Pollinated

Growing Season

Cool-Season Crop

Before Planting

Rutabaga needs full sun and deep, loose soil with dependable drainage. Remove stones, roots, and large clods, then create a fine seedbed for uniform root expansion. Skip fresh manure and excessive nitrogen, correcting fertility only when a soil test calls for it.

Planting

Plant rutabaga seed outdoors in cool weather as soon as the soil can be worked. Keep the seedbed evenly moist and prevent the surface from crusting until seedlings emerge. Because rutabaga roots are easily disrupted, avoid transplanting. Thin rutabagas to about 8 inches apart.

Watering

Maintain consistent moisture around developing rutabaga roots. Water gently and deeply during dry weather, avoiding both drought stress and sudden heavy irrigation that may split or distort the crop.

Fertilizer

Feed rutabaga sparingly with a balanced fertilizer when soil fertility is low. Too much nitrogen produces lush tops, delayed roots, and inferior shape or flavor.

Harvesting

Rutabaga is ready when roots are fully colored, firm, and properly sized. Loosen the bed before pulling, especially for long roots, and harvest young for tenderness or later for storage use.

Tips

Prevent competition by keeping rutabaga beds weed-free from emergence onward. Avoid compacting the soil, thin before roots crowd, and sample roots regularly so they do not become oversized.

AVG. Seeding Rate

1M/166', 1 oz./1,400', 131M or 14¼ oz./acre at 6 seeds/ft. in rows 24" apart.

Pests & Diseases

Clubroot, black rot, downy mildew, Alternaria, and Rhizoctonia root rot affect rutabagas. Rotate all brassicas, use clean seed, and avoid moving soil from clubroot beds. Remove plants with V-shaped lesions or swollen roots. Store only firm, uninjured roots under cool conditions.

Rutabaga may attract cabbageworms, loopers, aphids, flea beetles, and slugs. Inspect frequently, use physical barriers early, and choose targeted biological controls instead of broad-spectrum insecticides.