Rutabagas . Not a sexy name and sure not a aphrodisiac veg . They ’re boring , knobbly , dark-brown orbs that are about as retiring as you’re able to get . But , on the inside , well , that ’s a different story . As it turns out , these roots are amazingly providential and whole worth develop .
What Are Rutabagas?
Rutabagas are a phallus of theBrassicafamily ( Brassica napus var napobrassica ) . The plant are big and leafy , and they require a long growing time of year to shape a substantially sized etymon . While the Green are sometimes used as a stock feed , they ’re also edible for humans . However , rutabaga are primarily acquire for their starchy ancestor that has a texture interchangeable to a turnip orparsnip .
Also known as a swede , rutabagas have been grown as a food crop for several hundred years . Originally engender in Russia and northerly Scandinavia , these roots were n’t grow in North America until the former 1800s .
An excellent storage craw , rutabagas will last for months in a nerveless basement or origin basement . An alternate storage method acting involves leaving the roots in the garden , as described in a recent section of this clause .
How To Grow Rutabagas
Thankfully , swedish turnip are very easy to farm , but again , they do require a fairly tenacious time of year of 90 to 100 day to produce an plenteous root . The best rutabaga varieties have roots with a angelical flavour and smooth , pantry grain . Many have a purple tinge to the top of the root , with a pale yellow colour inside .
rutabaga plant seeds should be sown immediately into the garden in spring , anytime after the risk of Robert Lee Frost has passed . The soil must be over 40 degrees F for the seeds to shoot . Sow the seeds in row spaced 8 - 12 column inch apart . lose weight the result seedlings to a spacing of six to eight inches apart on heart . Rutabaga roots can grow quite large so give the works plenty of elbow room to grow .
Throughout the season , make certain the plant receive sizable moisture , watering when necessary during times of drought . Lack of moisture can take to woody , pithy root word . Side - dress with an organic , farinaceous fertilizer in mid - summertime to boost root size and plant wellness .
hoarfrost sweeten the smack of rutabaga plant , because it convert their starch into sugars . For the most pleasing flavor , be sure to leave the roots in the ground until they ’ve been frost at least two or three meter . A buddy-buddy stratum of shredded leaves placed over the plants will insulate them from all but the coldest weather , prolonging the crop and protect your crop . Except for locations in the extreme magnetic north , it ’s possible to totally winter rutabagas in the garden with nothing more than this stratum of mulch .
How To Prepare Rutabagas
To harvest rutabagas , simply pull out the roots from the ground when you ’re quick to make or store them . Cut off the leafy tops directly after crop , pull up stakes an inch - foresightful stump of halt behind , and do not disregard into the antecedent itself .
prep can be as childlike or as complex as you ’d like . uncase the harvested roots with a pairing knife and slice them carefully as the flesh can be quite hard .
My favourite agency to use homegrown rutabagas is as a mash . Mix the boiled radical with buttermilk and butter and mash as you would potatoes . you may also turn them into a creamy soup using the same recipe you use forwinter squash soup , except substituting the rutabaga plant for the squash .
Rutabagas are also excellent when mashed with carrots or parsnips , and a make rutabaga puree can do to inspissate soups and gravy as well .
Give this humble veg a try . You ’ll extend your homegrown harvesting and expand your culinary options .
