DELIVERY INFO: If you order spring plants today we expect to ship from mid-May onwards. - See FAQs for more info.

Swede – Marian

(10 Plug Plants)

Easy-to-grow

Suitable for pots & containers

Certified organic plants

Estimated Delivery from mid-May

£5.99

Easy to grow, hardy and deliciously tasty
Swede is a hardy root vegetable that is easy to grow so long as plants are watered regularly to avoid the swede root from splitting. It has a globe shape with purple skin colour and yellow flesh within. Suitable for raised beds and traditional plots in all parts of the UK, Swede is easy to grow from plug plants – you will receive a complete growing guide with your delivery.

Number of plants: 10 plug plants

Variety: Marian (organic)

In the kitchen: Delicious roasted, mashed or slow cooked in stews or casseroles.

Everything you need to know about our plug plants

Delivery & FAQ’s

If you order now we would estimate delivery from mid-late May. Please see FAQs for up-to-date delivery info.

FAQs →

About the plants

These plug plants come bare-rooted and ready to plant

More Info →

Growing Turnip & Swede

Turnips and swede are both easy to grow - read our online guide for tips

Read on →

Array ( [name] => Turnip & Swede Plants [blogtitle] => Let's get you growing... [blogintro] => [blogs] => Array ( [0] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 110999 [post_author] => 4 [post_date] => 2020-02-27 14:01:28 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-02-27 14:01:28 [post_content] => OK, so a friend told me the other day that "a swede and turnip are exactly the same thing, it's just that the Cornish call a turnip a swede. But they're both just turnips". I got very confused. You probably did too, just reading that line! I've lived in Cornwall nearly all my life, and I definitely thought that a swede was a swede and a turnip was a turnip, and that they were two different vegetables. I needed to clear this up in my mind, because I don't like being confused about my veg. I have to say, it was quite funny googling it all because the explanations are SO different on different sites. As far as I can glean, the following is true:

Swedes and Turnips do come from the same family.
Swede is a Swedish turnip, hence the name "swede". They are bigger, tougher skinned, yellow fleshed and much hardier than a turnip.
Turnips are the smaller ones, with smoother skin and white flesh. They are faster growing.
In Cornwall some people do indeed refer to swedes as turnips. It's swede that goes into a Cornish Pasty.
In Scotland, a turnip might be called a swede or a turnip, and a swede might be called a neep. But I got totally lost on this one, so may have to bow down to the wisdom of the Scottish Rocket Gardeners out there!!

I'm not sure I'm any the wiser, but I'm sticking to turnips are the little white fleshed ones, and swedes are the big yellow fleshed ones. [post_title] => Swede vs Turnip? Diary of a Rocket Gardener [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => swede-vs-turnip-diary-of-a-rocket-gardener [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2022-06-16 14:57:03 [post_modified_gmt] => 2022-06-16 13:57:03 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.rocketgardens.co.uk/?p=110999 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 265814 [post_author] => 4 [post_date] => 2022-02-11 14:09:36 [post_date_gmt] => 2022-02-11 14:09:36 [post_content] => Carrots, beetroot, parsnips, celeriac, swede and turnips will all benefit from much the same growing conditions. We take a quick look and give some specific top tips for particular crops too.

Soil Preparation

Root crops will really benefit from good quality soil. If you have heavy clay soil, or if you have lots of stones in the soil, it is a good idea to EITHER dig it over really well, adding plenty of organic matter, OR opt for no-dig and simply cover the soil with a thick (e.g. 10cm) layer of compost before planting your roots. Alternatively, you can grow in pots/containers or grow bags if you turn them up on their side so that you get more depth.

Watering

The trick to good roots is consistent watering. If the soil fluctuates from very dry to very wet you will find that the roots split. Aim for consistently moist soil, and your roots will do much better and will grow well. The only exception to this is parsnip, which is more drought tolerant.

Parsnip Top Tips

Parsnips in particular will need well draining soil. If you don’t have this, then a good tip is to build a ridge of soil before planting, and then plant the parsnips into the top of the ridge. Watch out for canker which can be a problem particularly in wetter conditions – if the shoulder of the parsnip is exposed you may see it turning a yellow/brown and starting to rot. To avoid this, pull the soil up around the root to prevent it from being exposed in the first place.

Carrot Top Tips

Carrots should be protected from carrot root fly. There are all sorts of theories about this, but we find the simplest thing to do is simply cover the row of carrots with a sheet of horticultural fleece. Easy.

Turnip & Swede Tips

These plants are from the brassica family, and should be protected from all the classic brassica pests - the easiest thing to do is cover them with a mesh netting. This should help minimise damage from pigeons, butterflies/caterpillars and flea beetle.

Celeriac Top Tips

The main thing to remember is that celeriac needs a lot of water and that lack of moisture will prevent the roots from swelling properly. Celeriac will really benefit from a mulch to keep moisture in the soil, and of course, during dry spells be sure to water thoroughly and regularly. [post_title] => Top Tips for Root Veggies [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => top-tips-for-root-veggies [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2022-02-11 14:09:36 [post_modified_gmt] => 2022-02-11 14:09:36 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.rocketgardens.co.uk/?p=265814 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 175986 [post_author] => 4 [post_date] => 2024-11-14 11:57:21 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-11-14 11:57:21 [post_content] => If you've got some swede to harvest, then you could of course make a puree or a mash, but a Cornish Pasty would be even better....and they are so good for this time of year as a filling, warming lunchtime treat! To make it vegetarian, swap out the beef for a bit of grated cheese and just add a bit more filling to each pasty.

INGREDIENTS

For the pastry:

500g plain flour
125g butter
125g salted butter
a pinch of Cornish Sea Salt
175ml cold water

For the filling:

400g beef skirt, cubed
300g potato, peeled & diced
150g white onion, peeled & sliced
150g swede, peeled & diced
Cornish Sea Salt & Pepper mix
Beaten egg (for glazing)

METHOD To make the pastry:

Put the flour, butter and lard in a mixer, and mix to a bread crumb like consistency.
With the mixer running, add the water a little at a time until it pulls together in ball of dough.
Wrap the dough in clingfilm and pop it in the fridge for 30mins.

To make the pasties:

Preheat your oven to 180c
Mix all the filling ingredients together
Roll the pastry out to 0.5cm thick
Cut out 4x 20cm circles from the pasty (use a side plate as a guide)
Fill your pasties with the filling.
Bring the pastry together and crimp it together to form the crust.
Brush the pasty with the beaten egg,
Use a sharp knife to make a hole in the top to let steam out.
Put on an oven sheet and bake for 50 mins until golden brown

[post_title] => Cornish Pasty Recipe [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => cornish-pasty-diary-of-a-rocket-gardener [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-03-25 13:45:50 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-03-25 13:45:50 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.rocketgardens.co.uk/?p=175986 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) )

Swede – Marian

(10 Plug Plants)

Everything you need to know about our plug plants

Delivery & FAQ’s

About the plants

Growing Turnip & Swede

Soil Preparation

Watering

Parsnip Top Tips

Carrot Top Tips

Turnip & Swede Tips

Celeriac Top Tips

Let's get you growing...

Swede vs Turnip? Diary of a Rocket Gardener

Top Tips for Root Veggies

Cornish Pasty Recipe

What our customers say...

April Keech, Leeds

D.E

C. T.

Shall we save your barrow?

Swede – Marian

(10 Plug Plants)

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Everything you need to know about our plug plants

Delivery & FAQ’s

About the plants

Growing Turnip & Swede

Soil Preparation

Watering

Parsnip Top Tips

Carrot Top Tips

Turnip & Swede Tips

Celeriac Top Tips

Let's get you growing...

Swede vs Turnip? Diary of a Rocket Gardener

Top Tips for Root Veggies

Cornish Pasty Recipe

What our customers say...

April Keech, Leeds

D.E

C. T.

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Shall we save your barrow?