Rutabaga in Zone 3a & 3b
Brassica napus var. napobrassica
Yes, rutabaga grows in zones 3a and 3b. Plant it outside Aug 1–Aug 8.
When to plant rutabaga in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Aug 1–Aug 8 |
| Estimated harvest | Oct 30–Nov 6 (~90 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
Rutabaga is a cross between cabbage and turnip, grown for its dense, sweet-fleshed root. Unlike most vegetables, it isn't planted off the spring last-frost date at all. It's sown in summer, timed backward from the fall harvest you want.
How rutabaga fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Rutabaga needs about 90 days from sowing to first harvest.
Rutabaga planting windows in every zone
Zone 3b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Not usually | Jul 22–Jul 29 | Oct 20–Oct 27 |
| 3a & 3b (your zone) | Not usually | Aug 1–Aug 8 | Oct 30–Nov 6 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | Jul 17–Jul 24 | Oct 15–Oct 22 |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | Jul 12–Jul 19 | Oct 10–Oct 17 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Jun 27–Jul 4 | Sep 25–Oct 2 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Jun 12–Jun 19 | Sep 10–Sep 17 |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | May 27–Jun 3 | Aug 25–Sep 1 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Apr 19–Apr 26 | Jul 18–Jul 25 |
Harvest dates are about 90 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
- Radish: Radish (including the daikon form) is a documented trap crop for flea beetles, which prefer its mustard oils over other brassicas and can be sacrificed or pulled once infested: the same research cited on the radish page.
Where to buy rutabaga seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee (each supplier's rutabaga seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Laurentian (Brassica napus var. napobrassica): The standard rutabaga, and for good reason: it's been the default North American variety since before 1920, and Johnny's Selected Seeds still sells it as the mild, sweet-flavored, uniform round root gardeners expect when they picture a rutabaga. Buy: True Leaf Market Full notes
- Helenor: A round, light-orange-fleshed type Johnny's says colors up earlier in root development than Laurentian, so you can gauge progress sooner, and stores well for up to six months at proper conditions. Buy: High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing rutabaga" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Rutabaga in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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