Laurentian Rutabaga is a dependable heirloom variety prized for its smooth texture, sweet mild flavor, and striking appearance. Originally developed in Canada, this beautiful rutabaga produces uniform round roots with creamy yellow flesh and deep purple tops that stand out beautifully in the garden.
The roots typically grow 5 to 6 inches across and develop a rich sweet flavor that becomes even better after exposure to cool weather and light frost. Laurentian rutabagas are excellent for roasting, soups, stews, mashing, and winter storage.
This hardy cool-season crop grows vigorously in fertile well-draining soil and performs especially well in fall gardens. The plants are easy to grow and produce reliable harvests with minimal maintenance.
With its excellent flavor, attractive coloration, and dependable yields, Laurentian Rutabaga is a wonderful heirloom root vegetable for home gardens, market growers, and homestead food production.
Laurentian Rutabaga Seed Details
- Quantity: 500 Seeds
- Plant Type: Heirloom Root Vegetable
- Root Size: 5-6 Inches Round
- Root Color: Purple Tops with Creamy Yellow Flesh
- Flavor: Sweet and Mild
- Seed Planting Depth: 1/2-1 Inch
- Germination Temperature: 65-70°F
- Days to Germination: 3-14 Days
- Row Spacing: 18-24 Inches
- Plant Spacing: 4-6 Inches
- 100' Row Yield: 60 Pounds
- Sun Requirements: Full Sun
- Harvest Time: Approximately 90 Days
- Cold Hardy: Yes
- Soil Requirements: Fertile, Well-Draining Soil
- Ideal Uses: Roasting, Soups, Stews, Mashing, Root Cellar Storage, Fall Gardens, Homesteads, Market Gardens
How to Save Seeds
Rutabagas will cross-pollinate with other plants in the Brassica rapa family, so isolate different varieties to maintain seed purity.
Rutabagas are biennial plants and require overwintering before they will produce seeds during their second growing season.
In milder climates, protect plants outdoors with heavy mulch through winter. In colder climates, trim the leaves to about 2 inches above the root and store the roots in damp sand or sawdust inside a cool root cellar.
Replant the roots in spring and allow the plants to flower and develop seed pods.
Once the seed pods become dry and brown, harvest them carefully and allow them to finish drying completely before removing the seeds.
Store fully dried seeds in a cool dry location inside labeled envelopes or airtight containers until ready for future planting.
