Swede
Brassica napus var. napobrassica
The swede is the great winter root vegetable of the British table — sweet, dense, and deeply comforting. Roasted or mashed, it becomes something wonderful. It stores in the ground through severe frost and is one of the most dependable crops for winter eating.
SowingDirect sow
Sunlight☀️ Full sun
Water💧 Low
Days to harvest150–180
Soil pH5.5–7
Spacing23cm × 40cm
Planting Calendar
Sow indoorsSow outdoorsTransplantHarvest
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Direct Sowing
Sow thinly in shallow rows in late spring to midsummer. Thin in stages to 23cm. Swedes need the long days of summer to develop but must be established by midsummer.Thinning
Thin progressively to final spacing. Thinnings are edible as a leaf vegetable. The final plants should have about 23cm between them.Powder Mildew
Powdery mildew can be a problem in late summer. Improve air circulation by keeping plants well spaced. Resistant modern varieties like 'Marian' avoid many traditional problems.Soil: Any well-drained soil. Tolerates poorer conditions than most vegetables.