Why Grow Helenor Rutabaga?
High-Yielding Variety Helenor Rutabaga is a premium Dutch variety prized for its uniform roots, dependable production, and excellent storage quality. The round roots feature attractive white skin with a vibrant purple top and beautiful pale orange flesh inside. Known as a top-yielding rutabaga, Helenor produces consistent, high-quality roots that are best harvested when they reach 4–6 inches in diameter.
Delicious Roots and Greens for a Dual-Purpose Harvest Helenor Rutabaga offers more than just flavorful roots—the nutritious greens are also delicious and can be harvested for fresh cooking, giving gardeners two crops from a single planting. The dense, sweet roots store exceptionally well after harvest, making them an excellent choice for fall gardens and long-term winter storage. With its improved uniformity, reliable yields, and outstanding eating quality, Helenor is an excellent rutabaga variety for gardeners looking to maximize both harvest and versatility.
Rutabaga Growing Tips
• When to Plant Rutabagas
Rutabagas are a cool season root crop that grows best during the fall months, when cool temperatures help develop sweet, flavorful roots. While they can be grown in the spring in cooler climates, fall is the preferred planting season for most gardeners, especially in the South. Rutabagas are typically direct seeded, as they develop the best root shape when grown without transplanting.
To plant, make a shallow furrow about ½ inch deep and lightly sow seeds along the row. Cover with soil, press gently to ensure good seed-to-soil contact, and keep the soil consistently moist until germination. Once seedlings emerge, thin them to 6–8 inches apart to allow plenty of room for the roots to size up.
Rutabagas tolerate frost well, and cool weather actually improves their flavor by converting starches into natural sugars. They can remain in the garden well into late fall and even after several light frosts.
• How to Fertilize Rutabagas
It's always a good idea to apply some pre-plant fertilizer to the soil before sowing rutabaga seeds. We like to sprinkle Coop Gro organic fertilizer across our raised beds or garden rows prior to planting. This provides the nutrients needed for strong root development and healthy top growth.
Once the plants are established, feed them with a balanced fertilizer to encourage vigorous leaf growth and the development of large, high-quality roots. We like to use a liquid solution of AgroThrive Fruit & Flower or lightly sprinkle Coop Gro around the base of the plants and work it into the soil. Consistent moisture and steady fertility will help produce sweeter, more uniform rutabagas.
• When to Harvest Rutabagas
Rutabagas are typically ready to harvest when the roots reach 4–6 inches in diameter, depending on the variety. At this size, they'll have excellent flavor and texture while remaining tender.
One of the best things about rutabagas is that you don't have to wait for the roots to mature to enjoy the crop. As the plants grow, you can harvest the nutritious greens for cooking, leaving plenty of foliage behind so the roots continue to develop. The greens are delicious sautéed or simmered and make an excellent complement to the cooked roots later in the season.
When the roots reach full size, gently loosen the soil and pull the plants by hand. Both the roots and greens can be enjoyed together for a hearty, homegrown meal, and the roots store well in a cool, dry location for months after harvest.
