Swede, 'Marian'

Germination

Sow directly. Swedes do not like an acidic soil so add lime to the soil if required prior to planting. Sow thinly 20mm deep into prepared soil or seedbed in rows 40cm apart. Ideal temp. 12-30°C. Germination takes 6-10 days. When seedlings are large enough to handle thin. Final spacing should be 25-30cm.

Growing

Keep the soil weed free. Water in dry weather. Insufficient water leads to small/ woody roots. Rain following a dry spell can cause the root to split.

Cultivation

Begin harvesting as soon as the roots are large enough to use, snooker ball sized and upwards. No need to wait for a fully grown root. Leave the roots in the soil until required or lift and store from December. To store twist off leaves and place in dry sand, in a box for storage in a cool shed. Crop rotate Brassicas of any kind, plant only once every 4 years in the same location to avoid club root infestation.