Rutabaga (Brassica napobrassica)

rutabaga or sweden turnip

La rutabaga or as it is also known kohlrabi, it is a kind of root that closely resembles the appearance of a turnip. To be more specific, it is a tuber that is the result of crossing species such as turnip and cabbage. Its scientific name is brassica napobrassica, but it is also known as the turnip from Sweden.

This is a tuber that really has excellent properties that are beneficial to the human body. This is how we will offer you all the information that corresponds to the Swedish turnip, so that you can include it in your daily food and have a better diet.

Characteristics of the rutabaga

flowers of the Brassica napobrassica plant

As already mentioned, the rutabaga is the result between the crossing of a cabbage and a turnip, what you could say is a food with tuber characteristics, but at the same time cruciferous.

Both its root and its leaves are used for the preparation of food, although its fruit is also widely used for having large amounts of vitamins and other beneficial elements.

Now, as for the fruit of this plant, it should be noted that regardless of the color of its exterior or whether it is a green or purple kohlrabi, the pulp of the fruit will have the same yellowish color.

Both green and purple kohlrabi may look like two different vegetables on the outside, but regardless of the differences, maintain the same nutritional values. One piece of information that can help you to know, differentiate and identify it is through its roots.

This part of the plant is elongated and has a rounded shape that when passing to the part of the base or the stem, these are taking a cylindrical shape, when it reaches the part of the leaves.

Moving on to the appearance of its leaves, they have a bluish color and its size is far superior to others of its kind. The good thing is that it is a very versatile plant to grow in environments with low temperatures or with certain levels of humidity, so it is very common to see Kohlrabi crops in Europe.

It is easy to confuse this tuber with the turnip, even more so when you don't have much knowledge about these foods. However, it is possible to differentiate and identify them, since the main thing is their size, it is quite large and they usually have a white part, another yellow color and in some cases, they usually have a purple tone.

As a curious fact regarding the origin, it must be said that the brassica napobrassicait's a vegetable that originated in the mid-XNUMXth century, to be more specific in the Middle Ages, its place of origin being what is currently known as Russia and Scandinavia. Later, the tuber became known and little by little it was expanding its territory and to the point of being as famous as the potato.

Uses

three species of turnips on a table

Its consumption depends a lot on what you plan to prepare, and you can use both its leaves and its roots, as if it were spinach or chard. On the other hand, its fruit can supplant the use of ordinary turnips, in principle because of the amount of sugar it has.

Its flavor speaks for itself, to the point that different preparations can be made in terms of dishes. Inclusive, multiple cultures often incorporate this tuber into their preparations, since its beneficial properties are known and which we will talk about later.

Its effectiveness for food is such that it has stood out for being an alternative to potatoes. The good thing is that it does not have as many amounts of carbohydrates as this one, but still, manages to provide the minerals, vitamins and all those nutrients that the human body needs.

Rutabaga cultivation

The main condition is that the cultivation of the rutabaga is carried out in cold or humid environments. However, this is not all you need, since in order to harvest this type of turnip, it is necessary to have a soil that is very well tilled.

Similarly, you need to have an efficient drainage system in order to avoid puddles or water holes. So that, grows very well in soils where organic matter is abundant.

In this point, it is vital to always keep in mind that for an effective harvest, you have to add aged compost just before proceeding with the sowing. This will decrease the possibility of lumps or rocks in the ground.

As for when to start the harvest of brassica napobrassica, it must be done just after the end of winter. Namely, early spring, although this does not have to be mandatory.

This is because you can perfectly plant the rutabaga during the end of summer so that the harvest can occur in autumn or winter. An important detail to note is that you will need the seeds to be able to plant and harvest it.

It is important that you always be aware of the sowing in order to prevent the soil from drying out. So each certain time you have to go watering and moistening the earth. After about three or four months, the harvest will be ready.

Services

You would be surprised by the amount of benefits and uses that can be given to the whole plant. Some of them include:

Effective for cancer prevention

Many fruits, vegetables, vegetables and plants have the ability to prevent the development of cancer cells, among them is the rutabaga. The main reason is because they have antioxidant properties, which makes rutabaga a potential anticancer source.

Improves the metabolic functions of the body

This is a benefit that can benefit both humans and animals that are fed with the plant. Being a viable and recommended option for vegetarians.

Rutabaga cannot be ignored because it has practically all the proteins the body needs. In addition, it has a large amount of protein that can promote both growth and healing, as well as cell reproduction and avoid muscle contractions

Supports bone health

freshly cultivated utabaga and placed one on top of the other

La brassica napobrassica It is a rich source of protein and nutrients for the body, but it is also a rich source of important minerals that bone health needs. Among the components that you will obtain from the plant is the Zinc, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and other elements.

And these three utilities or benefits may seem few to you, but in reality there are more than 10 benefits and uses that this plant offers. It is a rich source of energy and nutrients that very few people do not consider or are unaware of.


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