Westport Macomber Turnip Rutabaga
Item Details
(Brassica napus) Popularized in Westport, MA, by brothers Aden and Elihu Macomber, who brought seed home from the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. Seed Savers Exchange’s stock is from Russell Davis, a Westport farmer who obtained it in 1940. Known for its smooth skin which is easily cleaned for market. Roots are large and white with either green or purple shoulders.
- 100 days
- Organic
- Large white roots with green or purple tops
- Smooth skin
This variety works for:
- Baking
- Roasting
- Mashing
- Soups
Home grown rutabagas don't have the thick coating of wax found on roots in stores, but they benefit from being peeled before cooking.
Many countries refer to the rutabaga as "swede" or "Old Swede".
Try roasting diced rutabaga with tomatoes and kale or a variety of root vegetables. Rutabagas can also be fried or mashed, much like potatoes. The flavor is slightly sweeter and the texture is firm. Rutabaga is an excellent addition to soups and stews.
Lanttulaatikko is a popular Finnish Christmas casserole and is a sweet and savory side dish of rutabaga, spices, ad a crumbly topping.
Growing Instructions
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in late spring. Seeds will germinate in 5-15 days. Rutabagas prefer a long, cool growing season. Plant in full sun in cool climates or partial shade in hot summer climates. Rutabagas are most delicious after a frost or two.
- Direct Seed: 2" Apart
- Seed Depth: 1/2"
- Rows Apart: 18-24"
- Thin: 6" Apart
Ratings & Reviews
2 reviews
Easy Hardy Growers.
by Charleigh
Beginner gardener here. I bought these on sale for fun. I like in Laramie, Wyoming Zone 4b high elevation, short, cold growing season. These did the best out of everything I planted this year. I planted them first week of June and they survived the early June snow. I left them in the ground after the first snow and cold snap that lasted 3 days until the end of September which includes a lot of cold nights and other occasional frosts. These did really well and I am impressed.
Will be buying more!
by Nick
To be completely honest, I tossed 6 seeds into the greenhouse during early winter. I forgot to water or weed it until May at which time I saw them growing out of the weeds. The kids(even ASD) loved them mashed. I will be growing lots more. They were resilient, grew well and tasted/texture great!