How to Grow Rutabaga in NC

Conduct a soil test kit to determine soil pH. North Carolina soil tends to be acidic.

Sprinkle limestone on soil surface to raise the soil pH, if your test confirms very acidic soil. Rutabaga prefers slightly acidic soil, with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. For a 100 square foot bed, 5 pounds of limestone will raise the pH by 1 point.

Apply 3 pounds of 10-10-10 and one-half a pound borax to the soil surface. 10-10-10 provides the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which rutabagas need to thrive. The borax supplies boron, a micronutrient often lacking in North Carolina soils.

Select seeds in time for a fall or spring planting. North Carolina's Cooperative Extension Service recommends "American Purple Top" or "Laurentian." Spring sowing happens in February or March for spring plantings, and August or September for fall crops.

Sow seeds at a depth of 1/2 inch, 4 inches apart in the row. Rows should be at least 12 inches apart. Water the soil after seeding so that it is lightly moist.

Give rutabagas about 1.5 inches of water a week, checking between watering sessions to ensure that the soil hasn't dried out. Infrequent or uneven watering can lead to woody roots.

Monitor rutabaga foliage for signs of aphids. The leaves will develop holes, or you will see the small insects themselves.

Spray rutabaga tops with a garden hose to remove aphids. Late morning on a dry day is the best time to do this, so that leaves will have a chance to dry off.

Harvest the rutabagas when the tops are 12 inches tall and the roots themselves are between 3 to 4 inches in diameter. The two varieties that do best in North Carolina, "American Purple Top" and "Laurentian," each take about 90 days from seeding to harvest.