Turnip/Rutabaga
Brassica rapa subsp. rapa (Turnip) / Brassica napus var. napobrassica (Rutabaga)
Cool-season brassica root vegetables suitable for Zones 3-9; rutabaga prefers fall harvest after the first hard frost for sweetness, while turnips mature faster and are grown for both greens and roots. Well-adapted to cool-temperate climates with moderate-fertility soils.
Crop Snowflake Score
/acre
/acre
/acre
years
Overview
Growing Season
- Plant
- Mid-June to mid-July (Rutabaga); Spring/late summer (Turnip) – Mid-June to mid-July (Rutabaga); Spring/late summer (Turnip)
- Harvest
- After first hard frost; typically September to November – After first hard frost; typically September to November
- Frost-free days
- 90+
- GDD (base 50°F)
- 1,000
Yield
- Typical yield
- 20,000 lb/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 1 years
- Labor
- 300 hrs/acre
Market Fit
Active Regional Buyers
Limited or developing buyer network in this region
Price Trend Stable/Up
Price stable over past 3 years
Supply Below Demand
Regional supply roughly balanced with demand
Multiple Buyer Channels
Limited market channels; primarily single outlet
Value-Added Potential
Limited value-added processing opportunities
Market Growth Projected
Stable market outlook
Climate Fit
Hardiness Zone Match
Region's hardiness zone within crop range (3.0-9.0)
GDD Sufficient
Regional GDD (2600) meets crop requirement (1000)
Precipitation Compatible
Regional precipitation (~40 in/yr) compatible with crop needs
Frost-Free Season OK
Frost-free season (160 days) meets crop requirement (90 days)
Chill Hours Met
Chill hour requirement N/A for this crop type or met by default
Climate Trend Favorable
Climate projections remain favorable for this crop in the region
Soil Compatibility
Soil Texture
Drainage
Infrastructure Fit
Equipment Compatible
Standard farm equipment compatible or easily adapted
Storage Available
Dry/ambient storage sufficient; commonly available on farms
Irrigation Compatible
Low water needs or rain-fed viable
Field Layout Suitable
Vineyard field layouts suitable for this crop
Labor Availability
Moderate labor requirements; manageable with planning
Processing Proximity
No nearby specialized processing; may need direct marketing or shipping
Finance Fit
Revenue Above Average
Gross revenue ($20,000/acre) exceeds regional average
Input Costs Acceptable
Input costs are low to moderate
Payback Period OK
Annual crop; returns in first season
Insurance Available
No federal crop insurance; NAP may be available for some disaster scenarios
Revenue Per Labor Hour
Revenue per labor hour ($67) is competitive
Grants/Subsidies
Grant and subsidy programs available (Specialty Crop Block Grant, EQIP, Beginning Farmer, etc.)
Economics Breakdown
| Avg Price/Unit | $1/per lb |
| Gross Revenue/Acre | $8,000 |
| Annual Operating Cost | $3,500/acre |
| Establishment Cost | $0/acre |
| Total Input Cost | $3,500/acre |
| Net Return/Acre | $2,000 |
| Revenue/Labor Hour | $67 |
| Crop Insurance | Not available |
Source: UMass New England Vegetable Management Guide; MSU Extension E2207 (2025)
Risk Fit
Manageable Pest/Disease
Moderate pest/disease pressure; manageable with available methods
Market Diversified
Market access diversified across multiple channels
Low Establishment Risk
Moderate establishment risk; manageable with planning
Climate Resilient
Hardy and resilient to climate variability in the region
Regulatory Burden Low
Minimal regulatory burden for production and sale
Diversifies Portfolio
Diversifies farm revenue away from grape monoculture
Risk data for this crop is being collected. Check back soon.
Nutritional Yield
Nutrition data pending.
Research agents will profile Turnip/Rutabaga against USDA FoodData Central on the next maintenance pass. Per-acre nutritional yield will appear here once the per-100g panel is recorded.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem service data pending.
The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Nearby Buyers
Data Sources
Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.
Primary sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.
Economics data year: 2025 · Region: lake_erie View economics source →
33 tracked changes across 5 data categories