edenhana

Swede

A classic New Zealand winter vegetable in the brassica family, larger and sweeter-fleshed than turnip, and a good keeper once lifted. Shares clubroot and caterpillar problems with cabbage and broccoli, so avoid following those crops in the same bed. Sown over late spring and summer (spring in Canterbury and Otago) for a winter harvest, and like parsnip, the flavour is better after a frost or two.

Sun
full sun
Water
moderate
Spacing
30cm
Harvest
Ready in 90-120 days
Difficulty
beginner
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Expected yield
1-2kg per plant
Cost to grow
~$4 NZD
Grocery value
~$12 NZD
Companion plants
Onions, Dill, Chamomile
Plants to avoid nearby
Cabbage family
Common diseases
Clubroot
Common pests
Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars, Aphids

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: January and November-December. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: November-December. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: October-November.

Growing stages

  1. SowingDirect sow, spring to summer depending on region, for a winter harvest

    • Sow direct into full sun; swede doesn't transplant as reliably as it germinates fast from seed
    • Avoid beds that grew cabbage, broccoli or other brassicas last season, to reduce clubroot risk
    • Thin seedlings to around 30cm apart once established

  2. Establishment

    • Watch for cabbage white butterfly caterpillars on young leaves, the same pest that targets cabbage and broccoli
    • Aphids can cluster on new growth in warm weather
    • Keep watering consistent; irregular water can cause roots to split or turn woody

  3. Bulb development

    • Clubroot causes stunted, wilting plants with swollen, distorted roots; there's no cure, so remove affected plants
    • Keep the bed weeded as the swollen root develops through autumn
    • Continue checking for caterpillars through the growing season

  4. HarvestWinter, 90-120 days from sowing

    • Flavour sweetens after a frost or two, so there's no need to rush the harvest
    • Roots store well left in the ground or lifted and kept in a cool, dark place
    • Harvest before roots become oversized, as very large swedes can turn woody

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