Rutabaga
Rutabaga: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Swede, also called rutabaga or Swedish turnip, is Brassica napus in the Napobrassica Group, part of the Brassicaceae family. Its names recall its relationship with cabbages and turnips, but it is distinct from the ordinary turnip, Brassica rapa, and from kohlrabi, a form of Brassica oleracea. This description covers the type of vegetable rather than one specific cultivar. Colour, shape and size vary between selections, so the familiar name does not promise an identical appearance in every garden.The part eaten as a root vegetable is a swollen organ involving the lower stem and root. It is usually rounded, sometimes somewhat elongated, with an upper portion visible above the soil. In many varieties this shoulder is purple or violet, while the lower part is cream or pale yellow. The flesh is often yellow, although the exact appearance depends on the selection. The contrast between the coloured shoulder and pale base is…
