4 22 
VEGETABLE GARDENING 
590. Marketing. — Harvesting begins as soon as the 
stalks have attained a length sufficient to satisfy the 
markets. The largest stalks are pulled, no attention be- 
ing paid to the smaller ones, although the small stems 
are more tender for midsummer use. It is not customary 
to make heavy pullings until the third year from plant- 
ing. Harvesting in any year should not continue until 
the plants are largely exhausted. Rhubarb is essentially 
a late spring and early summer crop. Ordinarily the sea- 
son of marketing lasts about two months, May and June 
being the months when the crop is consumed most 
largely. From two to eight stalks are tied in a bunch 
Red or blue tape adds considerably to the attractiveness 
of the product. 
RUTABAGA (Brassica campestris) 
591. Culture. — It is also known as “Swedish Turnip” 
and in England as “Turnip-Rooted Cabbage.” In compo- 
sition and character of growth it is very similar to kohl- 
rabi (page 349), and requires practically the same cul- 
tural conditions. The flesh is considered richer than that 
of the turnip. Rutabaga requires a deep, moist, fertile 
soil. For the early crop, the plants may be started un- 
der glass, as recommended for kohl-rabi. The usual 
method, though, is to sow as soon as the open ground 
can be prepared, to produce the early crop. This vege- 
table is most largely consumed in the fall. It is also 
stored for winter use, being preserved in the same way 
as other root crops. For the late crop the sowings 
should be made in most sections from the middle of June 
until July 6. The plants should be thinned to about 8 
inches apart. The spacing between rows may vary from 
15 to 30 inches, depending upon whether hand wheel 
hoes or horse implements are to be used in cultivating. 
The roots will stand some freezing, so they need not be 
