Has anyone ever grown rutabaga successfully? Is it a slow grower? I'm in Z5. Do I have enough time?

I've got rutabaga growing now that I planted last month.It has not had any problems with the light freezes we are having daily.It's in a raised bed and I'm zone 8,still pretty warm here.This is the latest I have ever grown it.I've got to throw some clear plastic across it to protect it from the daily rain we are getting.It has a more concentrated flavor grown drier I grow it for my husband,I don't like the stuff :p I think you will get very limited growth now but if protected, a very early spring crop.

I have rutabaga that should be about mature. I think I planted it out back in late July or early August (a little later than usual). Zone 6

It's best to plant it so that it matures in the cooler weather of fall. It needs cold temperatures in order for the best flavor to develop. If you plant seed now, it will mature in summer if at all. Being a biennial, it may simply go to seed after the temperatures warm and not even produce a crop.

What do you do with rutabaga? How is it cooked?
Same question for parsnips-what do you do with them?
I'm not all that sure what turnips are for either !

Rutabaga is a large round waxy veg, I always call them turnips. I peel, cut into chunks and boil til tender, takes a while. Drain, mash til smooth, add a little milk, butter, season with some salt , pepper, and a little nutmeg. Either you like them or you don't. We do,it makes a good substitute for mashed potatoes with gravy and meatloaf for example.

Rutabega, turnip, and parsnips!

MRW has good avice on rutabega, I like them chopped into chunks in meat pie - they tast like a cross between a potato and cabbage. Yum.

Turnips are my all-time fave... Saute in butter with salt - cabbage-like taste. They are great pickled and raw too.

Parsnips - Yucky to me. But they give soup a good flavor. They tast a little like a bitter carrot/turnit/celery cross.