Topic: swedes.

[Good Gourd 2]

Help, what am I doing wrong I can`t grow swedes.  They germinate OK, I put a sprinkling of garden lime in. All I get are swedes shrivelled and not as big as carrots. Flea beetle is a problem with raddishes etc on the plot but they usually get over it and are fine.

[saddad]

I struggle too so I'm going to watch this one carefully...  :-X

[Good Gourd 2]

Thank you Saddad, glad I`m not on me own. I do wonder if it is flea beetle, although I can grow turnips. But I like swedes best.

[plot51A]

Well, I'm definitely no swede expert - but on the other hand I'm still using them from last season so must be doing something right. I always grow them under enviromesh so perhaps that makes a difference.

[davyw1]

Swedes are an undemanding brasica that dont like a high PH,they do do best in a neutral one. I set my seed away in plastic cups and transplant them out making sure not to damage the tap root.
A couple of weeks before planting out i rake the soil into a mound about 4" high and sprinkle grow more or fish blood and bone along the top.
After planting i then keep the plants moist to ensure rapid growth this helps against the flea beetle as it only attacks the very young leaves, i try to never to let them get checked.
If the flea beetle is a big problem then a very light dusting with ant powder works.

[Good Gourd 2]

Makes sense plot51a, I will try enviromesh and ant powder. Thank you for your help.

[cornykev]

Mine have been crap for the last two years, first year they tasted orrid and last year they just didn't grow, I'm off to check how TG does his.   ;D ;D ;D

[InfraDig]

I have just been looking at hometownseeds.com   Is rutabaga what we know as swede?

[kt.]

I grow Marion swede.  I sow them 2 seeds per module in seed trays, prick out the weakest and transplant the other.  That's about it really.  No special feed or anything, just left to their own devices once transplanted.  I couldn't grow any when direct sowing but have great success this past 4 years since transplanting them.

Last year, a fellow gardener gave me a black bucket with 25-30 swede plants in it.  He threw some seed into the bucket of compost earlier in the year and they were about 8" tall when I transplanted them into the ground.

[chriscross1966]

I have just been looking at hometownseeds.com   Is rutabaga what we know as swede?

Not really, it's a fodder crop, similar to swedes in the way that field beans are similar to broad beans..... you'd eat one if you were desperate but I doubt if you would choose to.....

I didn't grow swedes last year but previously I've used the same technique as ktlawson.... stick a few seeds in modules, thin to the best in each, plant out after early spuds or salads (not radishes), check PH and lime if needed but they're not quite as alkaline loving as other brassicas...... they do want plenty of water during the summer though not as much as celeriac.....

chrisc

[Jayb]

I have just been looking at hometownseeds.com   Is rutabaga what we know as swede?

I'd say yes, swede are known as rutabaga in America.

I more often sow individually in modules, to avoid flea beetle. I treat pretty much as ktlawson, although I've used Bora and Virtue the last few years. I'm also trying Western Perfection this year. Can't really give any tips as they just get on and do their stuff  :)....sorry

[Deb P]

I've had reasonable success with 'Marian', and also grow in  modules and plant out, but am going to try 'Best of All' and 'Joan' this year as well. Mine have done well under a mesh tunnel overwinter too.....flea beetle seems to love them which knocks them back considerably. I find they like mushroom compost dug in before planting out as well.

[star]

I sowed Marian in modules as well. They have grown very straggly. Can I pot the on the same as cabbages....up to the first leaves?

[chuff]

I have had no success with swedes :( I'm going to sow in pots this year so fingers crossed i will get a crop cos i haven't had 1 yet ;D

[Hector]

Eat when desperate? I LOVE them...great with Haggis...mash with butter and black pepper :)

[Hector]

Just had a lovely dinner of this mashed with blak pepper and butter...teamed with our own spuds mashed...and a McSweens veggie Haggic. Will polish off with some home-made Yoghurt now :)

[Amazingrotavator(Derby)]

I sowed Marian in modules as well. They have grown very straggly. Can I pot the on the same as cabbages....up to the first leaves?
They are part of the brassica family,treat them the same,pot them to the first leaves.

[Vinlander]

Best swede recipe I've ever found is mashed with nutmeg - they love each other - one of those amazing mixtures that is better than the sum of its parts...