Rutabaga From The Victory Garden

The rutabaga has grown extremely well this year, and is substantially bigger than what we normally find at the grocery store. A little history and botany is thrown in just for fun.
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[@AndrewTubbiolo]

Wow. What a monster. Would love to see a 'daily care' video. That garden is amazing. That two people do all that is pretty incredible.

[@Realunitedstates]

Daily care? I'm afraid I don't follow. The garden has done great this year, and the bulk of stuff to be harvested is still a ways off. It has been a fair amount of work, but we enjoy it and the exercise has done us a lot of good.

[@pelenaka]

By daily care I mean how to grow. Recently bought some as they are recommended on Keto.

[@imari2305]

I've eaten rutabagas since I was a kid. My mom (RIP) would make it during the holidays or for Sunday dinner as a side and I've done the same over the years. I've never tasted the leaves because here in NYC they're sold without the leaves in the market and have a thick wax coating which is a pain to get off. Yours look amazing! My first time visiting your channel and I'll be back.

[@Realunitedstates]

Yeah peeling the wax coating on commercial ones is unpleasant. They grow remarkably well but require a lot of trimming because we don't use pesticides.

[@ookeybookey7955]

I just harvested my first rutabaga today, its beautiful.

[@Realunitedstates]

That's wonderful news! They are a beautiful sight to behold. Congratulations on your harvest.

[@nancydb1390]

I had rutabaga for the first time this week. Loved it. Looking at all kinds of recipes.

[@Realunitedstates]

Generally I just peel it and boil it in stock (chicken, pork, beef) until its fork tender. There is a Swedish dish where you boil it together with carrots and parsnips and potatoes and then mash them, called Rotmos (literally means Root Mash).

[@wayned5872]

@@nancydb1390 see my remarks

[@wayned5872]

Grandpa & dad introduced me to this wonderful root when i was a very young boy, Thanksgiving & Christmas dinner were never without this root, as I got older grandma had to make a triple batch for just us 3. I've always treated them like potatoes mash them up after cooking to fork tender , a bit of salt, pepper, whole milk & butter, nothing else

[@Realunitedstates]

We like them both mashed and short of "chunks". We canned quite a few of these.

[@rprochowski3930]

Another interesting and informative video, Paul. I do miss the aniticipation of another new Real United States video from you and Bev.

[@Realunitedstates]

You are very kind Richard. I have largely returned to my writing for my creative outlet. I occasionally miss doing video, and sometimes I play with the idea of doing some again. but writing has always been my first love.

[@Vika-se5mc]

What a fantastic garden!

[@Realunitedstates]

Thank you Zadia! We worked very hard on it this year, and now the harvest is nearly complete.

[@DeDe-iq3ts]

So good to see you! Have missed your videos. Can't wait until Bev is with you in Videos.

[@Realunitedstates]

Thank you. Well, Bev chooses when she wants to be in a video, and I almost never know too far in advance when that may be. But she's back there behind the camera. :-)

[@AWWx2]

Great to see you again !! I was wondering the other day how you were doing. Glad to see you doing a video on this topic. I have NOT had rutabagas ever !! The french fry idea sounds like a great way to eat it.

[@Realunitedstates]

Hey good to hear from you! As harvested a third rutabaga and there was a bit too much to fit in the canner, so we cut the remainder into sticks for the dryer this evening. As I mentioned, we had never had it before this year, but properly prepared they are really good. I often stew them in chicken stock or bouillon.

[@freddieivory625]

Always love your videos!! Thank you for that info on Rutabaga, that was my question this morning . Truly,!! A friend gave us some turnip green with roots.. I ask my husband , “have you ever eaten rutabaga”?. He said, “yes, I believe they are the same as turnips.” My response was, “I don’t think so”, solely basing that on the fact that I personally taste a distinct difference in favor but I didn’t really know if there was difference. Your video was the answer. Thank you so much!! Btw, “for those of you who have insomnia”. 😂😂😂 Your garden is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

[@Realunitedstates]

Thank you so much. Yes, there are VERY distinct taste differences between turnips and rutabagas. It is getting to be time again to till the garden this year, and we are expecting to be growing very different things from last year. Can't wait to get at it!

[@Russianbro777]

Good to see a new video! Rutabaga is tasty with butter.

[@Realunitedstates]

Yes, there are a few ways to season it that we are finding tasty.

[@lisathayne7333]

Love rutabaga. Very informative.

[@Realunitedstates]

Thank you. I didn't have any pr3evious experience with rutabaga, but I have found it to be something I really like and enjoy. I have a number of ways I like to prepare it, including (but not limited to) deep frying it. Thanks!

[@debrafischer807]

Love rutabaga…love them in soup.

[@Realunitedstates]

We're quite fond of them too.

[@Slothfurato]

My grandpa made his own "holiday" the Sunday following the last nfl Sunday game called rutabaga Sunday cause his garden also had a lot of em and he was bored since no football and one Sunday many moons ago he grabbed a rutabaga and carved stuffed outta them, and now my family celebrates it.

[@Realunitedstates]

Cool story, and cool family tradition. The Swedes carved jack-o-lanterns out of them.

[@jason27swg]

I love them. .my grandmother would add just a bit of sugar salt and boil them with a piece of smoked meat until tender. They were diced. Now that I've seen this I'm going to buy a couple my pugs love them too

[@Realunitedstates]

We had great success growing them, and enjoyed them both fresh and canned.

[@wwsuwannee7993]

If you didn't know, rutabaga greens are some of the best tasting greens. Don't fling them, they are deluxe prepared like collards etc.

[@Realunitedstates]

:-) Well, therein lies the problem; I don't much care for collards or other similar sorts of "greens". I did prepare a batch form this harvest to try them, but just not something that appeals to me personally.

[@masterjee2021]

Salam (greetings) zia from Pakistan hope both of you ok and everything cool waiting for RUSV return soon

[@Realunitedstates]

Zia, we are well. The scarring to my face after cancer surgery got worse over time and makes it difficult to speak clearly, so I sort of lost interest in making videos.

[@kingenglishshow7853]

Very nice vloge nice big veg kind of turnip hope you are health and happy plz post some new video wish you both always happy and health Amin

[@Realunitedstates]

We haven't made any new video recently. Not sure when or if we will.

[@AnnieThyme]

Those were giant rutabagas! I went to a jewish nursery school and they used to feed us raw rutabaga for snacks (several of the kids were very strict kosher- but like the most extreme end so on top of it being something the teachers obviously liked it also suited dietary requirements for the class). It was one of those snacks that left me half scarred!😂 there's only so much a 4 year old can take (I was more an ants on a log girl! Haha) My mom used to add it at the side of roast beef/ rumps when they were roasting in the oven (similar to the potatoes), and in shepherd's pies or any kind of stew. I would probably have a better taste for them now but my memories are nostalgic but...not fondly remembered for how it tasted! Haha. Those fries sound good though- that almost makes me wish I could try it again!😜...or had had that method *years* ago! Anyways, glad to see you are looking well and to get a chance to see more of what you've been growing. It's always a fun escape to see the garden and the spoils of it! Sending you and Bev loads of love! xxx

[@Realunitedstates]

Bev had some unpleasant childhood memories of rutabaga, so nobody was more surprised than her when we tried them earlier this year and they were good. I think it's all in how they are prepared. I often stew them in chicken stock, which significantly enhances the flavor. I had no such prior frame of reference, so I didn't approach them with any notion of what to expect. I think that makes a huge difference. The idea of them raw seems a bit off-putting to me, but that is in large part due to my difficulties chewing. We haven't tried them baked or mashed yet, but I suspect that is in my future. There are a LOT of them out there, and well, given their individual weight there are a LOT of a LOT out there! The one we harvested after videoing was over six pounds! Anyway, we successfully canned seven quarts of them that turned out perfectly.

[@mrssugarlump2]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the greens of the Rutabaga plant! It breaks my heart when I see people throw them on their compost piles or feed them to their chickens! If you ask me, they should be on the store shelves instead of some of the other ones that they sell on a regular basis. Don't get me wrong, I love the Rutabaga root just as much as I do the greens. I think they're both delicious and more nutritious than most of the others. ❤️😋

[@Realunitedstates]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@Eusepio1957]

Hello my dear friends! :) *Big LIKE**#3O* Ciao have a great weekend; stay safe!!!

[@Realunitedstates]

Hello Ettore! Glad to know you are okay! We are well and safe. Winter has been quite mild this year so far. Yes, there is some snow, but not too much, and in general the temperatures are remaining near freezing (32°F or 0°C). We are eagerly preparing for spring, the replanting of the garden and the return to the Farmers Markets! Things are ... better, here now and life is settling down. Thanks and stay safe my friend!

[@terryboyer1342]

Howdy Campbells! I prefer rutabaga over potatoes in pasties. And yes a little yellow food coloring does make it look better.

[@Realunitedstates]

Thanks Terry! Interestingly enough I have never made pasties, which seems almost like a sin being from Michigan. LOL! We just finished putting them in the pressure canner, and they looked great! I can only hope they will still look good when they come OUT of the canner.

[@kylesgarden8725]

Lots of value here thanks!

[@Realunitedstates]

Glad it was helpful!

[@annfinster]

Thank you very much!

[@Realunitedstates]

You're welcome!

[@sherylholder7703]

I love rutabaga!! Growing my own this year. Too expensive at the store!!!

[@Realunitedstates]

It is very good, and we find it quite versatile in the ways we can cook and use it. Locally it is about 99 cents a pound at the grocery store, but growing it is relatively simple and a single packet of seeds will produce all a family can consume in a year. Best of luck!

[@donaltman9780]

In the southern states we love rutabagas!

[@Realunitedstates]

Cool! I never thought of them as being "regional". They are relatively common in the grocery stores here in Michigan. We cook them in a variety of ways ranging from boiled to deep-fried.

[@trumplady4933]

I love them 👍👍❤️

[@Realunitedstates]

We do too!

[@Ahuntsicspotter]

2 butterflies🦋🦋 flew in this video.

[@Realunitedstates]

Well outdoor video you're likely to see any number of things go by.

[@qweeknee4208]

Beautiful garden! Is rutabaga started as a cool weather vegetable like peas or warm weather like tomatoes?

[@Realunitedstates]

I'm not entirely certain. It is sort of like red beets, but it has quite a long growing season, and is commonly harvested AFTER the killing frost. Given that we are in Zone 5 we plant as soon as the threat of frost is over and hope there are enough days to get a harvest. LOL.

[@qweeknee4208]

@@Realunitedstates thank you!

[@terryboyer1342]

Alright. Winters over. Time to wake up from hibernation and make some vids!

[@Realunitedstates]

LOL! Well, I don't know if it is in the cards or not. However, we haven't been hibernating, but rather working quite hard over winter to prepare to launch a new business.

[@terryboyer1342]

@@Realunitedstates Sounds exciting! What kind of business are you talking? Gonna garden this year?

[@ninad4570]

ThankU for this video; so enjoyable! I luv rutabaga! In your opinion what is the closest you could plant these together? This is my first time growing rutabagas and I would luv to have the same success as you!

[@Realunitedstates]

I would say not less than six inches apart, because they get pretty big.

[@lodollar23]

Fantastic information! Can I grow this anytime? I mean, I don't have to wait until a couple frost right? Are they hardy as a springtime planting? Do you think they will survive the heat?

[@Realunitedstates]

Well, there are to my knowledge okay with heat, but as for frost in he Spring, I'm not as confident.

[@thorson7842]

The Doodly Doo. Lol! Good to se ya. Do you guys have or have used a greenhouse? Thanks again for sharing as always cool stuff!

[@Realunitedstates]

Thanks Harvey! But I didn't coin that word. Literally, "Dooblydoo is a term KZbinrs use for the description text beneath a video . . ." No we don't have a greenhouse per se. We start our seedlings (starts) in flats on a table in the room off the kitchen or in the living room (literally) and the neighbors like to poke fun about what we are growing under the lights in the house. LOL! Glad you enjoyed this one and it's good to hear from you!

[@thorson7842]

@@Realunitedstates it just sounded funny...dooblydoo.

[@baneverything5580]

Rutabagas are much tastier than turnips. They taste more calorie dense like a potato. I like turnips though...even raw. We used to grow them and a whole lot of other vegetables. I`m trying lots of different things now since my garden space is small. But here in central Louisiana I can grow something all year. But sadly pine trees block most of the sun in mid winter. If not for the power lines near them I`d be ringing those pines to get rid of them. I bought solar panels and batteries thinking I would be on a better lot but plans changed. This one is the most secluded though but those cursed pine trees ruined a whole lot of my most important hopes like solar powered heating in winter. Even in summer the sun is blocked until mid morning then at mid evening so my fig trees may not do well here either.

[@Realunitedstates]

I would agree that rutabagas are more testy than turnips, although we eat both.

[@spankysmp]

As Baz said below, here in the UK, we call them swedes. They are lovely mixed in with mashed potato

[@Realunitedstates]

Yes we also make the Swedish dish of mixed root-mash (rotmos) with rutabaga (as we call them) potatoes, carrot and parsnip. In fact last week I made Fläsklägg med rotmos which I am given to understand is a traditional and popular dish in Sweden. It was delightful!

[@spankysmp]

@@Realunitedstates Just had to look that recipe up (not the mash!) Might have to try that but no meat for me. I'll have to sub something else in.

[@afroblue9427]

Cool you are great bro!

[@Realunitedstates]

Thank you!

[@johnny96888]

What kind of knife is that and where can I get one?

[@Realunitedstates]

I had to go back and look to see which knife you referred to. That is a Chinese Chef's knife. They are commonly available in many Asian Grocery stores.

[@keneasley33]

Mashed with potatoes and chicken stock..mmmm!

[@Realunitedstates]

Also good mashed with other root vegetables to make the Swedish dish Fläsklägg med rotmos (pork hock with root mash).

[@keneasley33]

@@Realunitedstates ja you bet ya by jimminey!

[@smitbar11]

I think those are what we call Swede(s)? Is the flesh a bit orange when cooked? Like the US, Turnips and Swede are not especially popular here, carrots and potatoes the most popular root vegetables here probably.. Have you any Radish or Beetroot growing, Paul?

[@Realunitedstates]

I'm not sure I would say orange. They do seem to off-color slightly when cooked. Yes, the rutabaga is in fact called a Swede in some places, so you are correct that this is that item. To answer your question, we did grow some red radishes, and still have some diakon radishes growing now. We have a few beets, but not many as the rabbits and deer devastated them this year. A problem we are working on solving.

[@macrosense]

Has anybody tried crossing turnips and some kind of cabbage since then? Just to see what happens

[@MJ-bg8gn]

Yellow food color?

[@Realunitedstates]

Without re-watching the video I am not really certain I understand the question. I personally use any number of things to color enhance food preparation.

[@Fargosportsmassage]

I eat one big one every month, religiously for over 10 years….and I know I will never suffer from ED dysfunction….

[@Realunitedstates]

Good for you.