There are basically different ways to grow rutabaga vegetables, including from scraps, sprouts, and seeds; but can you grow rutabaga from cuttings? The short answer is YES, you can grow rutabaga from cuttings and we will show you how shortly.
Rutabaga is a sweet root vegetable that is packed with a lot of nutrients. Most times, people confuse rutabaga with turnips. The rutabaga vegetable is a large, more yellowish vegetable that grows only in cool climates.
On the other hand, the turnip is smaller and usually has a reddish tinge, and grows in a variety of climates, unlike the rutabaga.
Both the rutabaga and turnip vegetables have a slightly bitter flavor similar to cabbage, but rutabagas are sweeter and milder when eaten raw.
In this post, we're going to teach you how to grow rutabaga from cuttings.
Table of Contents
Can You Grow Rutabaga From Cuttings?
Rutabaga (Brassica napus) is a root vegetable. Like turnip and other root vegetables, rutabaga can be grown from cuttings.
The rutabaga vegetable is very easy to grow from cuttings. Firstly the rutabaga should be sprouting or at least show signs of sprouting before cutting.
If the rutabaga you have in storage is sprouting, consider growing it because it will provide another root for harvest.
How To Grow Rutabaga From Cuttings
You can grow the rutabaga vegetable from cutting if you do the cutting right; below is a guide to help you cut the vegetable correctly.
Use a tool used for cutting, preferably the cutter, to cut off a small slice at the bottom of the plant that has the root on it. Put it on top of a cup of water and wait for a few weeks until the elongated roots become visible without stress.
Once those are grown, transplant the rutabaga into the soil and wait a few months until it is fully grown.
Consistently add fresh water because it is fully rooted. Rooting will generally occur within the third or fourth week, but some plants will usually take longer than expected.
When the roots are 1-2 inches long or longer, the cutting is at this point ready to be potted up.
Subsequently, you might ask the question: Can I grow a turnip from a sprouting top? A turnip crop is very easy to grow and requires loose, fertile soil rich in compost.
Turnips that are stored sometimes often try to grow new roots and leaves over time and these become bitter with a woody texture.
Sprouting turnips are not suitable to eat, but you can plant them in the garden to grow a crop of turnip greens.
How Do You Encourage Rutabaga Roots To Grow From Cuttings?
To promote root growth, create a rooting solution by dissolving an aspirin in water. Give your new plant time to acclimate from water to soil.
If you root your cutting in water, it develops roots that are best adapted to get what they need from water rather than from the soil.
The Rutabagas vegetable is seasoned to be October through March, but they’re best enjoyed in the dead of winter.
Look for ones that are firm, about 4 inches in diameter, and have a purplish tinge to the skin. If you scratch the surface with your fingernail, you should see yellow flesh.
Read Also:
- How to Grow Turnips From Scraps
- Best Companion Plants For Turnips
- How To Grow Citronella Plant From Cutting
- Fruit Trees That Grow From Cuttings
- How to Transition from Vegetative to Flowering
Conclusion
Rutabagas are highly nutritional plants with numerous health benefits. Rutabagas are an excellent source of potassium and magnesium.
The plant also serves as great antioxidants and may aid weight loss when added to your diet. These benefits outlined above make rutabaga every gardener's favorite.
Hopefully, this post has successfully answered the question, can you grow rutabaga from cuttings? Now you know growing rutabaga from cuttings is absolutely possible, and once done right, your rutabaga plant will thrive.
