RUTABAGA Seeds, American Purple Top

American Purple Top (Brassica napus) is a heirloom rutabaga producing large, round roots with purple shoulders, creamy-yellow flesh, and a sweet, nutty flavor. A dependable cool-season storage root whose taste sweetens after frost.

At a glance

• Botanical name: Brassica napus var. napobrassica 'American Purple Top'
• Type: Heirloom, open-pollinated root vegetable
• Days to maturity: about 90 to 100 days
• Sun: Full sun
• Spacing: 4 to 6 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart
• Planting depth: 1/2 inch
• Root size: about 4 to 6 inches across

Best for

• Roasting and mashing
• Soups and stews
• Winter root-cellar storage
• Fall harvests sweetened by frost
• Adding fiber and nutrients to meals

How to grow

Direct sow 1/2 inch deep in loose, fertile, well-drained soil, timing the planting so roots mature in cool fall weather. Thin seedlings to give roots room to size up, and keep moisture consistent for tender, crack-free roots. Harvest after the first light frosts for the sweetest flavor.

Flavor profile

Sweet, nutty, and mild, with sweetness that deepens after frost.

About 99Heirlooms

99Heirlooms specializes in non-GMO, open-pollinated heirloom seeds chosen for flavor and reliability, so you can grow proven varieties and save seed season after season.

Sold by 99Heirlooms.com, based in Saint Paul, Minnesota.