How to Dig Rutabagas

Rutabagas develop a mild, sweet flavor once they reach maturity. These root vegetables reach maturity and develop their best taste after exposure to a light frost, so they are typically dug in mid- to late fall after the roots reach a diameter of 3 to 5 inches. The edible portion of the vegetable is the root, which makes it difficult to judge maturity unless you dig down to verify the size of the roots. You can harvest them when they are as small as 2 inches if a hard frost threatens, as the roots won't survive a freeze.

Garden fork
Trowel
Knife
Box

Instructions

- 1
  Loosen the soil on either side of the rutabaga plants or rows with a handheld garden fork. Avoid digging in the center of the row because the fork can pierce and ruin the mature roots.
- 2
  Grasp the plant stem near the base, and lift the roots out of the loosened soil. Slide a trowel under the roots, if necessary, to dislodge them from harder soil.
- 3
  Cut off the stem to within 1 inch of the root with a sharp knife. Wipe the soil off the outside of the root with a moistened cloth.
- 4
  Place the rutabagas in a slatted box or a cardboard box with ventilation holes in the sides. Keep them in a cool location that is between 32 and 35 degrees Fahrenheit for up to four months.

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