Have you grown swede?

[Suky]

Has anyone had success with swede? I have used 'search' but can't find anything helpful on growing swedes. I have never tried to grow them but have been told it's not an easy crop. Does anyone have any advice, favourite varieties etc?

[Alison]

Yes I grow and it's a doddle. I sow direct in April, a pinch of seeds every few inches and then thin as necessary to ensure they have enough space to swell. The most important thing I've found is netting to avoid cabbage whites and then pull over the winter. I still have a decent amount in the ground and they're lovely. Can't remember the variety for sure but think its Marian. Some people will module sow but there really is no need at all.

[WendyC]

I've grown Marian too, quite successfully although I'm sure I'd get bigger crops if I looked after them a bit more. Now to persuade the offspring to eat them..

[Two_Sheds]

I've never been able to grow swede - my soil is light and sandy

[realfood]

Swede is so easy in Glasgow where it is quite wet! So useful as a Winter crop along with haggis of course! Marian is good with quite a sweet taste.

[arpoet]

i pulled half a dozen Marian swedes on monday all about 12 ounces each which is enough for a boiling. I just scatter in a drill about april and leave em too it. I grow white turnips in the same way, but mixed in with the cabbages to detere the cabbage whites then harvest em as needed in the summer. Got about 20lbs in the freezer for use in stews, etc.

[TryingToGrow]

i tried growing some last year - they got eaten by white fly and the container was to small and didn't grow that big

Tip: use large containers

[sarahspatch]

Yes I've grown swedes very easily, can't say the same about parsnips though!
I sow them early may, and never get round to thinning them properly but they still grow well.
....You could say I neglect them a bit!
Pulled a few up at the weekend and they were still lovely.
Give them a go!

[Snadger]

I usually leave my swedes in the ground over the winter and pick them as I need them.
We must have had a seriously cold winter this year as the majority have rotted, which I can only put down to frost damage?
Next year I suppose I'll have to lift them and store them in the garage!

[Alison]

I usually leave my swedes in the ground over the winter and pick them as I need them.
We must have had a seriously cold winter this year as the majority have rotted, which I can only put down to frost damage?
Next year I suppose I'll have to lift them and store them in the garage!

You have had it very cold though this winter round your way. I find that it's usually better to leave them in the ground rather than risk them drying out in storage. Mine were under frozen snow for a couple of weeks but didn't come to any harm.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Plenty of time to sow swedes in early May after the ground has warmed up. Farmers sow using precision seeders at 4" or 6" spacings depending on the use they are intended for. If to be harvested using machinery they will be grown on top of drills but they grow equally well on the flat. I sow in stations 6" apart on the flat. Flea beetle can be a real problem so, once germinated, keep moist but not wet. Cabbage white isn't a major problem to me but perhaps because I have them already netted to prevent predation by pigeons. We had temperatures of minus twenty earlier this year and mine are perfect even now. Marian is an excellent variety that is resistant to mildew and to clubroot disease.

[solway cropper]

I much prefer swedes to turnips but they do stay in the ground a long time so I'd suggest only grow them if you have the space. Interesting that Aberdeenplotter had temps of -20 and his survived. We had -16 and mine all rotted. Must be something more than just temperature that gets to them.

[lottielady]

I grew them in 2010 by starting off in modules and then planting out and netting against pigeons etc, it is the first year with any success and we pulled swedes about 3-4lbs. Definately try again this year

[Suky]

Swede is so easy in Glasgow where it is quite wet! So useful as a Winter crop along with haggis of course! Marian is good with quite a sweet taste.

What kind of soil does haggis need then

Plenty of time to sow swedes in early May after the ground has warmed up. Farmers sow using precision seeders at 4" or 6" spacings depending on the use they are intended for. If to be harvested using machinery they will be grown on top of drills but they grow equally well on the flat. I sow in stations 6" apart on the flat. Flea beetle can be a real problem so, once germinated, keep moist but not wet. Cabbage white isn't a major problem to me but perhaps because I have them already netted to prevent predation by pigeons. We had temperatures of minus twenty earlier this year and mine are perfect even now. Marian is an excellent variety that is resistant to mildew and to clubroot disease.

No problem on my new lottie, water table is very high and apparently plots never need extra watering even in the driest summer.

Looks like Marion is a good one to go with, thank you all for your replies.

[sarahspatch]

The variety I sowed was 'Helenor', and they survived the 2 weeks or so of snow and ice!