RUTABAGA or SWEDE (or "beggies" as they were called in my large extended family) is an old European heirloom that has a different flavor than turnip, a fuller more mellow flavor whereas turnips can be rather sharp. Essential for the specialty food called "Pastie" (rhymes with nasty) a small meat and vegetable hand pie which Welsh miners traditionally carried with them into the mines. A hardy and easily grown root vegetable with a purple top and yellow flesh. The mild flavour and smooth texture is outstanding. 95 days. 50 seeds.
GROWING TIPS: Swedes grow well in any good garden soil, but do best in rich, deeply dug ground. They grow slower than turnips and are a cool-weather, fall crop. Choose a site where no brassicas have grown before. The soil should be neutral to sweet, lime if necessary, to a pH of 6.8 to 7.5. Direct seed in early summer, 3-4 months before the first frost. Set seeds 1/2" deep, 1" apart in rows 18" apart. Thin to 8" apart and mulch to conserve moisture. Make sure they get at least 1" water a week. Don't feed. You can begin pulling "beggies" as they're called when they are about 3" in diameter. Flavor improves after the first frost.
PASTIE RECIPE: You can still find pastie stands all over the Great Lakes region of America, but the recipe originated with Welsh miners. Simply, the pastie begins with a circle of pie dough, into which you put small pieces of meat (traditionally beef), carrots, potatoes and of course rhutabaga. Traditionally you also dot with small crumbs of suet which imparts a different flavor than using any other kind of shortening. But if you can't find suet in your store, use butter or bacon fat.) Then salt and pepper, fold over to form a semi-circle and crimp the edges and carve your initials in the top the way the miners' wives did for them. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about an hour. The pies tend to be a little on the dry side alone but are delicious served with catsup on the side. They also freeze very well and pop right into the oven from the freezer.
CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM GARDEN SEEDS & PLANTS offer hundreds of heirloom and vintage open-pollinated varieties! Most have histories dating back centuries and are tried and true producers. Some are rare, or threatened with extinction. When you grow a plant from heirloom seed and save that seed, you are participating in a practice that goes back for generations. Our grandparents and their grandparents grew these varieties. Often the seeds were prized possessions carried to the New World when they emigrated.
Ever notice how most seed catalogs require you to buy (and pay for) much more seed than you could ever possibly use in a season? If you have a budget for garden seeds, this limits your choices! Although seeds can be viable for longer than one growing season, it requires that they be stored at a consistent temperature and humidity. Few of us do this. CherryGal sizes its seed packets for the home gardener, because we know you may want to grow 5 different lettuces, or three different corns, and don’t want to have to take out a second mortgage to do so! CHERRYGAL SEEDS ARE A TREMENDOUS BARGAIN!
All seeds offered are FRESH stock, with high germination rates. Varieties are specially selected for home gardeners. If you want the flavor you remember from grandma's kitchen garden or the beauty of her cottage flowers, choose CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS.
ABOUT OPEN-POLLINATED SEEDS . . . All CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are heirlooms (dating at least 100 years) or vintage (mid-20th Century or older) OPEN-POLLINATED varieties. This means saved seed will be true to the parent. Don't be dazzled by the never-ending array of hybrid seeds promoted by gardening suppliers. First, seeds from that produce will not grow true to the parent -- you have to keep buying hybrid seed. Second, most hybrids are developed for market – not home -- growers with an emphasis on extended shelf life, storage and shipping qualities -- NOT flavor, texture and all those other elements that home growers seek.
All CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS come from reputable growers (most of them small farms) and wherever possible ORGANIC suppliers (so noted). By buying CHERRYGAL SEEDS you are supporting the growing worldwide movement of SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE and with a little practice you will be able to save even more money in the future by growing open-pollinated varieties and saving seed for next year. Please Note: CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are DOUBLE germination tested -- first from the grower and second by me and are guaranteed to be fresh stock, but are not guaranteed as to results (sorry - we wish we could, but there are too many variables in gardening) so please do not ask to return. However, we think you will be pleased and would like to hear about your gardening success!
SHIPPING: I endeavor to ship my seeds as quickly as possible - usually within 24 - 48 hours. If there is a need for more time, as in the case of resupply or initial supply, you will be advised at time of purchase and shipped as soon as possible. In the event an item becomes unavailable or temporarily out of stock I will offer you a chance to substitute another selection or refund you immediately (your choice). I package my seeds for shipping in a manner appropriate to the amount and type of seed - larger orders and larger seeds require more packaging. I also combine multiple orders of the same seed variety, where practical, in one envelope unless you request otherwise. This is an ecological measure, not a cost-saving one. Whether shipping first class or priority, there will be a delivery confirmation number supplied to you at time of shipping.
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