Rutabaga is an annual or biennial grown for its root, ready to pull about 90 days after sowing. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11. Its early spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees, even though the root is the prize. As a brassica (the cabbage family), give it a fresh bed each year — away from where its relatives just grew — so the soil-borne pests and diseases of the family never get a foothold.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
5.5-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
90
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What Rutabaga is
Rutabaga grows as an annual or biennial and reaches around a foot and a half at maturity. It blooms yellow in early spring.
How to grow Rutabaga
Rutabaga grows in USDA zones 2 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 90 days after planting. Rutabaga does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,500 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 85 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
41°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
90 days
Rutabaga.
Cornell
GDD Required
1500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1.5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
85+
plant_species_v5.csv
Sow directly
Sow rutabaga seed straight into the bed — root crops germinate fast and resent transplanting. Give them full sun.
Match the soil
Rutabaga prefers pH 5.5 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Rutabaga is ready about 90 days after sowing (Cornell). Pull while roots are young and tender — sweeter than oversized ones.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — rutabaga isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Rutabaga offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Rutabaga thrives
On hardiness alone, rutabaga grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Rutabaga growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Rutabaga can grow in these states:
See if Rutabaga will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether rutabaga actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Rutabaga in my zone?
Rutabaga grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Rutabaga take to grow?
Rutabaga is ready to harvest about 90 days after planting (Cornell). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Rutabaga?
Most growers plant rutabaga after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 85-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Rutabaga need?
Rutabaga needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Rutabaga need?
Rutabaga prefers soil pH 5.5 to 8, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Rutabaga attract pollinators?
Yes — rutabaga's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Rutabaga safe for pets?
Rutabaga is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.