Step-by-Step: How to Grow Swede in Your Allotment

Introduction

Looking for a hardy, flavourful, and low-maintenance root vegetable to add to your allotment? Swede—also known as rutabaga or Swedish turnip—is a fantastic cool-season crop that stores well, thrives in UK conditions, and delivers earthy sweetness perfect for stews, mashes, and roasts. With its long growing season and excellent cold resistance, learning how to grow swede in your allotment will reward you with satisfying harvests throughout autumn and winter.

In this comprehensive step-by-step guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to grow swede successfully—from choosing the right varieties and sowing seeds to harvesting and storing your crop for hearty seasonal meals.

Why Grow Swede?

• 🥣 Cold-tolerant: Perfect for autumn and winter allotment harvesting
• 🌱 Low maintenance: Hardy and forgiving for beginner gardeners
• 💪 Nutritious: Rich in vitamin C, fibre, and complex carbohydrates
• 🪴 Long storage life: Keeps for months in cool conditions
• 🍽️ Versatile: Great for mashing, roasting, soups, stews, and pasties

Best Swede Varieties for UK Allotments

Tip: Choose clubroot-resistant varieties if you have had issues with other brassicas in your allotment.

When to Grow Swede in the UK

Swede takes 20–26 weeks to mature—plan ahead for winter harvesting!

Where to Grow Swede in Your Allotment

Swede grows best in:

• Full sun, though it tolerates partial shade
• Moist, fertile, well-drained soil
• Firm ground with plenty of organic matter

Avoid:

• Recently manured beds (which cause root forking)
• Shallow, dry soils that restrict root development

Ideal for rotation with other root vegetables or brassicas in your crop plan.

Step-by-Step: How to Grow Swede in Your Allotment

Step 1: Prepare the Soil

Swede is a root vegetable, so soil preparation is key.

Soil Requirements:

• pH 6.5–7.5 (lime the soil if it’s acidic)
• Well-drained, deep soil with added compost
• Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers—opt for balanced feeds

How to Prepare:

1. Clear the bed of stones and weeds
2. Dig in compost or well-rotted manure during the winter or early spring
3. Rake to a fine tilth before sowing
4. Firm the soil by lightly treading if it’s too loose

Step 2: Sow the Seeds

Swede prefers to be sown directly into its final position.

Sowing Instructions:

1. Sow from mid-May to early July
2. Create shallow drills 1–2cm deep, spaced 38–45cm apart
3. Sow seeds 2.5cm apart in the drill
4. Cover lightly with soil and water in gently

Pro Tip: Swede doesn’t like to be transplanted, so avoid starting in modules.

Step 3: Thin the Seedlings

After germination (usually 7–14 days):

1. Wait until seedlings are 2.5–5cm tall
2. Thin to one plant every 20–25cm
3. Discard weak seedlings or replant if needed (very carefully)

Why thin? Proper spacing ensures each plant has enough room to grow large, healthy roots.

Caring for Swede Plants

1. Watering

• Keep soil consistently moist, especially in dry spells
• Avoid waterlogging and drought, both of which lead to woody or split roots
• Water deeply once or twice a week depending on weather

2. Feeding

• Use a balanced liquid feed or seaweed fertiliser every few weeks
• Avoid high-nitrogen feeds—they promote leafy growth over root development

3. Weeding

• Keep rows weed-free to reduce competition
• Hand-weed or hoe carefully—roots can be shallow early on

4. Mulching

• Apply mulch around plants to retain moisture and reduce weeds

Common Swede Problems and How to Avoid Them

Companion Planting with Swede

Swede is part of the brassica family, so it benefits from similar companion plants.

Good Companions:

• Onions – deter pests
• Chamomile – improves flavour
• Dill or mint (nearby) – repel aphids
• Lettuce – quick-growing filler between rows

Avoid Growing Near:

• Other brassicas (too many together encourage shared pests)
• Potatoes – compete for nutrients and space

Harvesting Swede

When to Harvest:

• Harvest from October to February
• Swedes are best when 10–15cm in diameter
• Leave in the ground through frost—the flavour improves

How to Harvest:

1. Use a garden fork to gently loosen soil
2. Lift the root by gripping the base of the leaves
3. Shake off excess soil and trim leaves, leaving a short stem

Tip: Harvest only what you need and leave the rest in the ground to store naturally.

Storing Swede After Harvest

In the Ground:

• Swede can remain in the soil until needed
• Protect with straw or fleece in very hard frost

In Storage:

• Remove tops and store in a cool, dark, frost-free place
• Store in sand, boxes, or hessian sacks
• Keeps for 2–3 months in proper conditions

Using Swede in the Kitchen

Swede is incredibly versatile:

• Mashed with butter and black pepper
• Roasted with herbs and garlic
• Added to soups, stews, or casseroles
• Grated raw into slaws or fritters
• Mixed into Cornish pasties or bubble and squeak

Nutritional bonus: Swede is lower in carbs than potatoes and high in vitamin C.

Growing Swede in Containers (Optional)

While best in open ground, you can grow swede in deep containers.

Container Growing Tips:

• Use 40–50cm deep pots
• Space one swede per 30cm diameter pot
• Fill with fertile, well-draining compost mix
• Water regularly and feed monthly

Compact varieties like Best of All work well in containers.

Crop Rotation for Swede

Swede belongs to the brassica family, so rotate accordingly.

Rotation Plan:

• Don’t grow in the same spot more than once every 3–4 years
• Follow swede with legumes like peas or beans
• Avoid following potatoes or other root veg directly

Rotation prevents the build-up of clubroot and other soil-borne diseases.

Conclusion

Swede is a robust, nutritious, and delicious crop that’s ideal for UK allotments. With the right sowing time, proper soil preparation, and regular watering, you’ll enjoy sweet, firm roots all through autumn and winter. Whether you roast it, mash it, or stew it, homegrown swede adds flavour, texture, and seasonal comfort to your meals.

Follow this step-by-step guide and enjoy the satisfaction of lifting your own swedes from the soil—fresh, flavourful, and perfect for hearty cold-weather cooking.

Top 10 Questions and Answers About Growing Swede

1. When is the best time to sow swede in the UK?

Sow directly in the ground from mid-May to early July for autumn and winter harvesting.

2. Can I start swede indoors and transplant it?

It’s not recommended—swede prefers direct sowing to avoid root disturbance.

3. How long does swede take to grow?

Swede takes 20–26 weeks to reach full maturity, depending on the variety.

4. Can I grow swede in containers?

Yes, in deep pots (at least 40cm) using rich, well-draining compost.

5. What’s the ideal spacing for swede plants?

Thin seedlings to 20–25cm apart in rows 38–45cm apart.

6. How do I prevent clubroot in swede?

Use resistant varieties, rotate crops, lime acidic soil, and improve drainage.

7. Do I need to feed swede during the season?

Feed once or twice with a balanced fertiliser—avoid nitrogen-heavy feeds.

8. Why are my swedes small or woody?

Likely due to drought, overcrowding, or harvesting too late—water regularly and thin properly.

9. Can swede survive frost?

Yes! In fact, a light frost improves the flavour.

10. How long can I store harvested swede?

Stored correctly in a cool, dark place, swede keeps for 2–3 months.