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Location

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Date Posted

Bowdon, GA

I want to try some of these. I got the seeds in the veggie exchange. What is the length from germination to harvest, and what temps do they grow the best at?

1/17/2013 7:55:20 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

In Wisconsin when we grew Rutabagas we planted them at the end of June and Harvested after a few frosts in October. I think we need Dave Thomas to tell us how the heck he grows a 75lb Rutabaga

1/17/2013 8:23:56 PM

Bowdon, GA

Thanks Linus, that gives me an idea. I thought about starting some in buckets in my sunroom now. I've been growing mustards all winter here, so I was thinking it might be better to try to harvest them before it gets hot in May. What is your avg summer temps in Menomonie?

1/18/2013 12:12:02 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

80's during the day 65 at night perfect pumpkin weather

1/18/2013 7:29:43 AM

Hinckley MN

Georgia may be a bit too hot for Rutabagas. They were typically a Northern Europe, Northern US/Canada crop. Before corn silage was popular, Rutabagas and fodder beets were the most popular winter feed for livestock. The little town of Askov, MN still celebrates Rutabaga Days every summer. Rutabagas can take a little shade and need consistant moisture to produce good bulbs. Try shade cloth and low volume sprinklers in the heat of the day to moderate temps.

1/18/2013 10:14:13 AM

Cornwall UK

I start my rutabagas in mid febuary, they are kept in the greenhouse with frost protection until about mid march, I don't let them get pot bound and keep them moving up pot sizes. They are then planted into a polytunnel and grown on in there until show time, the 75.2 was weighed at the end of August 2011, it came second in the show to Ian Neale's 85lb world record. There is more info on my diaries from 2011 and 2012.

1/18/2013 12:28:10 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Dave do you use shade cover in your tunnel? or cool the tunnel some how

1/18/2013 12:53:57 PM

Cornwall UK

I don't use shade cloth on the swedes but I can lift the sides of the tunnel to ventilate on hot days, even then the leaves do drop a little. Temps in Cornwall don't get much above 20C or 68F.

1/18/2013 1:20:45 PM

Bowdon, GA

Wow that is a long season. Your right Ben it is to hot here, so I figure I will plant them now and see how far they will grow. Not likely at all to grow any records here LOL. Thanks for the info CG.

1/18/2013 9:53:25 PM