Swede in season in Australia
Swede is in season in Australia from April to October, and at its peak from May to August. This is the cooler south; the tropical north has its own calendar.
At its best
Swede is a cool-weather crop that grows well in cool and cold parts of Australia. Frost makes it sweeter, so autumn into winter is the time to look. Left too long, it turns woody.
At the shop
Choose smaller swedes with smooth skin and firm flesh. Swede is bigger than turnip, with tougher skin and yellow flesh.
Keeping it
Keep it in the fridge's vegetable crisper. Young, fresh swede can be cooked with the skin on.
Three dinners
- Swede and potato mash Plenty of butter and pepper.
- Lamb and swede stew Cubes simmered with carrot and barley.
- Roast swede wedges Hot oven, olive oil, rosemary.
How we decide. Each item carries a score from 0 to 20 for every month of the year. We call 16 or more “at its peak” and 8 to 15 “around”. The scores were checked against Australian growers’ bodies, state government pages and the Sydney and Melbourne markets, and last reviewed on 9 October 2026. Seasons shift a few weeks with the weather and the state, so treat the edges as guides. Spotted something wrong? Tell us at [email protected].
General information only. These guides are not advice about how you should prepare, store or eat any food. Please follow the packaging and the official food-safety guidance from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and your state or territory food authority.