The Laurentian Rutabaga stands as a testament to cold-weather gardening excellence, producing impressive roots that weigh up to one pound with their distinctive purple crowns and creamy yellow flesh. This heirloom variety delivers a remarkable sweet and earthy flavor that intensifies with frost, making it perfect for fall and winter harvests. In just 90-95 days, gardeners can cultivate these smooth, uniform roots that measure 5-6 inches across, bringing both beauty and substance to the root cellar.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam; Slightly Alkaline Preferred
Preferred Temp50-75°F
Growth Stats
—
Height
—
Width
6 in
Spacing
90–95
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual, Biennial
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-9
Size
?in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual, Biennial
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
What sets Laurentian apart is its exceptional versatility and frost-enhanced sweetness that makes it equally at home in hearty winter soups and fresh summer salads. The robust, globe-shaped roots develop their signature purple and yellow coloring while maintaining remarkably smooth, uniform growth. These substantial rutabagas store for up to six months when properly cured, making them invaluable for extending the harvest season well into winter. The variety's tolerance for poor soils combined with its ability to thrive in cooler climates makes it particularly rewarding for northern gardeners seeking reliable root crops.
Common Uses
Laurentian rutabagas excel in hearty fall and winter soups and stews where their sweet, earthy flavor deepens the broth. They can be roasted to caramelize their natural sugars, boiled and mashed as a nutritious side dish, or cut and fried for a satisfying root vegetable preparation. Surprisingly versatile, these rutabagas are sweet enough to be enjoyed fresh in salads, adding a crisp, mildly peppery note to raw preparations.
Growing Timeline
First Harvest
Mid-fall
Last Harvest
Late Fall
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
For fall harvest, direct sow seeds in early to mid-summer about 90 days before intended harvest. For spring planting, sow as soon as soil can be worked. Plant 6 seeds per foot in rows 18-24 inches apart.
Harvesting
Harvest Laurentian rutabagas after 90-95 days when roots reach 5-6 inches in diameter and weigh close to one pound. The best flavor develops after at least two good frosts have sweetened the roots. Cut the tops before storage, leaving about an inch of stem to prevent bleeding.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Brassica napus L.
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Duration
Annual, Biennial
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)CAN (I)GL (I)
History & Origin
“Laurentian represents a cherished heirloom variety that has been carefully preserved and distributed by Mountain Valley Seed Co., a small, family-owned seed company dedicated to maintaining premium-quality genetics for both home growers and fresh market producers. This variety embodies the traditional rutabaga breeding that emphasized hardiness, storage quality, and the sweet flavor that develops through exposure to frost, characteristics that made rutabagas essential winter vegetables in northern climates.”