Swede / rutabaga

1. 1

   Sow direct

   May to early June. Don't sow earlier — May-sown swedes outgrow flea beetle damage faster than April sowings. 1 cm deep drill, sow thinly, cover lightly.

2. 2

   Prepare deep firm soil

   Full sun, firm fertile soil, slightly alkaline (lime if below pH 6.5). Fork in compost from the previous autumn; don't add fresh manure (it makes the roots fork). Stone-free deep tilth gives the cleanest roots.

3. 3

   Thin to 30 cm

   When seedlings have 4 true leaves, thin to 30 cm apart in rows 45 cm apart. Eat the thinnings — small swede leaves are excellent as greens.

4. 4

   Protect young leaves from flea beetle

   Cover with fleece or enviromesh from sowing through the first 4–5 weeks. Adult flea beetles pock-mark young leaves; established plants outgrow the damage.

5. 5

   Water through dry spells

   Swedes need consistent moisture for the first 6 weeks. Drought makes them woody and split. Water deeply once a week if no rain; mulch with grass clippings or straw.

6. 6

   Watch for club root

   Soil-borne disease (Plasmodiophora brassicae) that distorts roots and stunts growth. Once present, almost impossible to eradicate. Lime the bed to pH 7+ before planting; raise seedlings in modules so they have strong root systems before transplanting; consider club-root-resistant cultivars (Invitation F1) for severely-affected beds.

7. 7

   Lift after first frosts

   From late October. Frost converts starches to sugars and improves the flavour dramatically. Lift gently with a fork; trim tops 2 cm above the root; brush off loose soil. Don't wash.

8. 8

   Store or leave in ground

   Store: layer roots in damp sand in a wooden box in a frost-free shed. Keep until March. Leave in ground: in milder gardens (southern England, mild south-coast), swedes hold in the ground under straw mulch and you pull as needed. In cold gardens lift before deep frost.

Flea beetle, cabbage caterpillars, and clubroot; same brassica pest profile.