Growing guide
How to grow swede in Ireland
Swede belongs to the slower end of the vegetable patch. It needs time to build useful roots, then offers a long period of winter meals. Rich feeding is not a shortcut: it can encourage soft, split roots. A direct May sowing is a sensible beginner route, with earlier protected and later sowings serving different harvests.
On this page
At a glance
- Start with
- Seed; single-seeded modules are an option for an early crop
- Best position
- Many soils; avoid rich fresh feeding immediately before sowing
When and where to start
Indoor sowing. An early crop can be started singly in modules under protection in March.
Direct sowing. April to mid-June is the broad window, with May common for maincrop. Late June is a last opportunity rather than a preferred start. Avoid rushing into cold soil: early sowing can encourage bolting.
Planting out. Plant March-sown modules in April, roughly a month after sowing, using around 30 cm spacing and protection if aiming for extra earliness.
Planting and spacing
For a standard direct crop, sow about 2 cm deep, with rows 40 cm apart and plants eventually 20 cm apart. Wider 40 × 25 or 40 × 30 cm arrangements suit early or late crops in Teagasc’s method.
Prepare a clean seedbed and thin seedlings rather than leaving crowded groups. A small number of adequately spaced roots is more useful than a mass of poor ones.
Use appropriate fine mesh or fleece early to reduce flea beetle and cabbage root fly access. Inspect beneath covers and leave room for expanding leaves.
Routine care
Allow around fifteen weeks for the first useful roots; swedes are not a six-week turnip crop. Keep weeds down during establishment and check cover edges after working the bed.
Avoid excessive nitrogen and freshly rich feeding. Teagasc advises against applying compost or manure immediately before this crop; warm wet conditions and overfeeding favour splitting and soft rots.
What to watch for
Small pinholes in young leaves may be flea beetle damage. Cabbage root fly larvae affect roots; covers reduce access but do not replace inspection.
Brown heart is associated with boron deficiency, especially on high-pH soils. Seek diagnosis and soil advice rather than improvising a boron dose.
Varieties differ in resistance to mildews and winter hardiness. Record repeated problems rather than assuming every packet performs identically.
Harvest and storage
Early crops may be ready from July, May maincrop around September and June crops from November. Check root size and condition rather than only the calendar.
Sound roots can stand for winter use where conditions allow; severe frost still needs attention. Later sowings can maintain spring quality. Use lifted roots promptly; inspect standing roots regularly rather than assuming all will keep equally well.
Common questions
Should I manure immediately before sowing?
Teagasc advises against it for swedes because excessive fertility can encourage splitting and soft rots.
Are swedes as quick as turnips?
No. Allow roughly fifteen weeks for the first roots rather than expecting a rapid turnip harvest.
Can every variety stand all winter?
Hardiness differs. Check the variety and local conditions, and inspect stored-in-ground roots for damage.