Other names
rutabaga, yellow turnip, neep, turnip
Botanical name
Brassica napus subsp. rapifera
Family / Genus
Brassicaceae / Brassica
Plant category
Root and tuber vegetables
Peter Turner Photography/Shutterstock.com
Facts and figures
Light requirements
Sun / partial shade
Nutrient requirements
Medium feeder
Difficulty level
Easy
Culture (according to Gertrud Franck)
B - late
Culture (according to Sister C. Weinrich)
Companion crop
Growing period
120 days
Row spacing
35 cm
Plant spacing
35 cm
Sowing depth
2 cm
Germination temperature (minimum)
5 °C
Germination temperature (optimal)
15 - 25 °C
Germination type
Light
Planting & harvest times of Swede
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Direct sowing
Harvest
Direct sowing from Early May to Late June. After a growing period of 120 days, harvest can begin around Early September and continues until Late December.
Good and bad companions of Swede
Very good neighbours
Subterranean clover
Subterranean clover as an undersowing cut flea beetle damage by 66 percent in trials.
Good neighbours
Crimson clover
The clover's scent disrupts the orientation of cabbage root fly and cabbage white.
Phacelia
Phacelia does not host brassica pathogens and lowers clubroot pressure on the plot.
White clover
Flowering white clover undersowing confuses the cabbage white and reduces egg laying.
Bad neighbours
Mustard
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Oil radish
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Predecessors and successors of Swede
Good predecessors
Alfalfa
Lasting effect: 3 years
Berseem clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Broad bean
Lasting effect: 3 years
Buckwheat
Lasting effect: 3 years
Bush bean
Lasting effect: 3 years
Common vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Crimson clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Hairy vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Lupin
Lasting effect: 3 years
Oats
Lasting effect: 3 years
Persian clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Phacelia
Phacelia does not host brassica pathogens and lowers clubroot pressure on the plot.
Lasting effect: 3 years
Pole bean
Lasting effect: 3 years
Potato
Lasting effect: 3 years
Red clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Runner bean
Lasting effect: 3 years
Sainfoin
Lasting effect: 3 years
Subterranean clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Sunflower
Cabbage benefits from the deep loosening but also hosts white mould. Avoid where the disease is known on the plot.
Lasting effect: 3 years
White clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Winter rye
Rye and ryegrass demonstrably reduce clubroot in the following crop.
Lasting effect: 3 years
Bad predecessors
Black kale
Rotation break: 3 years
Black radish
Rotation break: 3 years
Brussels sprouts
Rotation break: 3 years
Chinese cabbage
Rotation break: 3 years
Flower Sprouts
Rotation break: 3 years
Garden cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Horseradish
Rotation break: 3 years
Kohlrabi
Rotation break: 3 years
Pak choi
Rotation break: 3 years
Pointed cabbage
Rotation break: 3 years
Radish
Rotation break: 3 years
Red cabbage
Rotation break: 3 years
Romanesco
Rotation break: 3 years
Savoy cabbage
Rotation break: 3 years
Spinach
Spinach itself is undamaged but multiplies beet cyst nematode strongly. Brassicas and beets suffer from it.
Rotation break: 3 years
White cabbage
Rotation break: 3 years
Very bad predecessors
Broccoli
Swede is closely related to cabbage and shares clubroot, cabbage root fly and swede midge with broccoli. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Cauliflower
Swede is closely related to cabbage and shares clubroot and cabbage root fly with cauliflower. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Kale
Swede is closely related to cabbage and shares clubroot and cabbage root fly with kale. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Mustard
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Rotation break: 4 years
Oil radish
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Rotation break: 4 years
Good successors
Alfalfa
Lasting effect: 3 years
Berseem clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Common vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Crimson clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Hairy vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Persian clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Phacelia
Lasting effect: 3 years
Red clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Salsify
Lasting effect: 3 years
Scorzonera
Lasting effect: 3 years
Subterranean clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
White clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Winter rye
Lasting effect: 3 years
Bad successors
Black kale
Rotation break: 3 years
Black radish
Rotation break: 3 years
Brussels sprouts
Rotation break: 3 years
Chinese cabbage
Rotation break: 3 years
Flower Sprouts
Rotation break: 3 years
Garden cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Horseradish
Rotation break: 3 years
Kohlrabi
Rotation break: 3 years
Pak choi
Rotation break: 3 years
Pointed cabbage
Rotation break: 3 years
Radish
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Radish
Rotation break: 3 years
Red cabbage
Rotation break: 3 years
Romanesco
Rotation break: 3 years
Sainfoin
High residual nitrogen suppresses nodulation. Weak-competing sainfoin is then overgrown by weeds.
Rotation break: 3 years
Savoy cabbage
Rotation break: 3 years
White cabbage
Rotation break: 3 years
Winter cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Very bad successors
Broccoli
Swede is closely related to cabbage and shares clubroot, cabbage root fly and swede midge with broccoli. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Cauliflower
Swede is closely related to cabbage and shares clubroot and cabbage root fly with cauliflower. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Kale
Swede is closely related to cabbage and shares clubroot and cabbage root fly with kale. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Mustard
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Rotation break: 4 years
Oil radish
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Rotation break: 4 years
Diseases and pests
Susceptible to
Alternaria leaf spot of brassicas
Black rot
Cabbage aphid
Cabbage moth
Cabbage root fly
Cabbage whitefly
Cabbage whites
Clubroot
Diamondback moth
Downy mildew of brassicas
Flea beetles
Swede midge
White rust
Harvest and processing
Peter Turner Photography/Shutterstock.com
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