Rutabagas plant is a member of the same family as cabbage. It has a long tubular root and gray to brown leaves. Other common names for it are Swede and turnip, but in other places the term “turnip” means the more common white turnips. The edible part of the plant is its underground stems and leaves.
Rutabagas is best known as an ornamental plant in flower garden as well as a vegetable. It can be grown on either a windowsill a patio or on a raised bed. This beautiful perennial can also be used in home care to rejuvenate soil, reduce weed growth, improve drainage, and attract beneficial insects. Here are some helpful home care tips for rutabagas:
In order to assure good drainage, make sure that your rutabagas plant has long roots, as the long roots will ensure proper drainage. In the morning, water your rutabagas thoroughly and give it about half an hour to soak. Rinse it thoroughly with clean water, squeeze out the excess water and keep the roots damp. When you water your rutabagas later in the day, just water it again and then allow it to dry naturally. You may have to do this every few days. For best results, do it once a week.
While the rutabagas plant is very easy to maintain, it can also be prone to aphid attack. Aphids can suck the juices out of your rutabagas leaves, causing wilting and browning of the leaves. To prevent this from happening, the best solution is to hand pull any Aphids off the leaves and stem. You can also use anti-aphid plants or sprays to get rid of them.
As far as caring for your rutabagas goes, there are other things you can do besides just watering it. A good rutabagas maintenance routine will include checking the fertilizer often, making sure the soil is always moist (preferably with water) and to check for over-watering. It’s important to make sure that the fertilizer isn’t too strong, as this can encourage the growth of more root. Also, check frequently to make sure there are no root clogs in the soil. Lastly, when it comes to pruning, you should never prune more than one leaf at a time unless you are dealing with a giant rutabagas plant.
While there are plenty of great reasons to care for your rutabagas plant, there are some downsides as well. The biggest downside is that it can be difficult to keep the leaves trimmed short if it is growing too thickly. Another downside of rutabagas is that it can be susceptible to diseases. Some common diseases include white spot, leaf spot, powdery mildew and root rot. Make sure to check your rutabagas leaves regularly for signs of disease and correct yourself quickly if you find one.