Top Tips For Growing Your Own Root Vegetables

Root crops are usually the last to be harvested even though they are the first to be planted. Understanding what are root vegetables, and how to grow them will help harvest the best quality root vegetable crops. This article discusses the ideal parameters and top tips to grow root vegetables at home.

What Are Root Vegetables?

Described as the large, fleshy nutritious part of underground grown plants, root vegetables can be consumed. Potatoes, beets, yam, garlic, onion, and carrot are famous root vegetables. From a nutritional point of view, root vegetables generally are good sources of folate, potassium, fiber, complex carbs, manganese, and vitamins C, A, and B.

Types And Examples

The two main categories of root vegetables are taproots and tuber roots. Some experts further categorize root vegetables into rhizomes, bulbs, and corms.

Taproots 

Carrots, parsnips, beets, daikon radishes, and turnips are taproots. A taproot is usually thick, tapering in shape, and grows straight downward. It is the prominent root from which other smaller roots branch out laterally.

Tuber roots

Tuber roots are additionally divided into stem tubers and root tubers. Examples of stem tubers are potatoes, and yam while root tubers are sweet potatoes and cassava. Tubers grow below the soil and are thick and short.

Rhizomes

The creeping root stalk plants that grow stems above the ground running horizontally along the soil surface are rhizomes. Turmeric, rhubarb, asparagus, ginger, and hops are rhizomes.

Bulbs

Onion, green onions, garlic, leek, and fennel are examples of bulb root vegetables. These typically consist of clustered segments or multiple layers.

Corms

Underground stems that grow vertically such as eddo, taro, celeriac, and water chestnuts are corms. These store starches for the plant and have a fibrous covering with roots emerging from the smooth base.

Growing Root Vegetables At Home

Root vegetables (beets, carrots, turnips, and radishes) can be grown in window boxes or fabric containers as long as they have the right depth. The key to growing the best quality crops is to care for them as they grow. 

Select Soil For The Crop Bed

The first step in preparing a garden bed is to choose the right type of soil. Clay soils are bad for root vegetables. Peat and sandy loam soil which provide good space for roots to spread out are best. Root vegetables grow well in deep, loose, well-drained soil. 

Preparing The Bed And Testing The Soil

Prepare the bed by removing sticks, stones, trash, and weeds. Then add an inch of compost and loosen the soil with a garden fork. This creates an ideal environment for growing roots. Water the bed before sowing, this ensures adequate moisture. Raised beds provide for better control over the crop. Root vegetables grow best at a soil pH that is between 6 and 6.5. Organic fertilizers with high potassium and phosphorous are excellent for root growth. 

Sowing The Seeds 

When sowing seeds, plant them to a depth that is twice their diameter. Plants may not come out if planted too deep. Space the seeds at least one centimeter apart, well-spaced seeds mean less thinning later.

Caring For The Crops

After sowing, water the bed. Maintaining good soil moisture is important. While watering the bed ensure that it gets at least one inch of water per week. This ascertains good germination and prevents soil crusting thus helping the root vegetables to grow.

Thinning The Seedlings

One month after sowing it is time for thinning the crop. This step is a necessary step for harvesting good quality crops. One way to do this is to remove every second seedling. Beets and winter radishes need a spacing of five centimeters. Thinning is important for plants to have enough space to absorb nutrients and grow. 

Preventing Pests And Other Animals

Fencing the area or enclosing the crop beds is one physical way to prevent pest attacks. Using hoops and row covers is another fantastic physical barrier to prevent attacks from pests, deer, and rabbits. An example of a biological barrier is to use companion plants that can attract useful insects and keep pests away. For instance, growing cilantro with potato attracts useful ladybugs and lacewings which prey on the Colorado potato beetle pest.

Harvest The Crop At The Right Time

Harvest the crop when roots reach peak quality. Check by slightly pulling over a root to be sure if the crop is ready for harvest. Once you see that the vegetable has matured, it is time to harvest. If you aren’t sure about when to harvest, look at the seed catalog. The seed packet lists days to maturity for each variety. For example, most winter radishes take 51-60 days, spring radishes 21-30 days, carrot varieties 65-80, turnips 38-50 days, and beets take about 50-60 days until they are ready to be harvested.

Care After Harvest

Remove the leaves after harvesting so that the moisture remains in the root. Store the root vegetables in a cool, dark place.

Factors Affecting Growth

As discussed in this article the vital factors that determine the quality of your root crops are:

• Type of soil – fertile, loose, well-draining healthy peat and sandy loam soils.

• pH – the range can vary from about 6–6.5.

• Heat – most root vegetables grow well and taste best when planted in spring and fall. Cool soils with the right consistent moisture are critical. Poor moisture results in stunted growth while too much moisture (waterlogged) may cause the plants to split. 

• Spacing – thinning is a critical step to provide adequate spacing for plants to grow as this step allows the plants to have larger, healthier roots.

• Fertility – If you plan to add organic fertilizers, do this after plants start to grow. Adding any fertilizers early on may burn the roots while adding them too late may cause sudden growth followed by splitting.

• High levels of nitrogen – result in poor root development and heavy leaf production rather than vegetable growth.

Top 4 Tips 

• Root vegetables (e.g., carrots) grow best when directly sown into the garden as opposed to beets that can be transplanted during spring or summer. Transplanting carrots and parsnips can result in misshaped roots.

• After sowing the seeds and watering the bed while waiting for germination, cover the water bed to create ideal conditions for seed germination.

• If the top of the roots of crops (e.g., carrots) turn green as they push out of the soil, an easy solution would be to hold up some soil around the roots.

• Water with EM-1® to increase the size, quality and nutrient value of your produce.

Conclusion

Patience and consistency are important while growing root vegetables. After harvesting, the crop must also be properly stored. Natural fiber baskets or wire meshed ventilated baskets can be used to store the harvested crop. Potatoes, for instance, are stored in ventilated baskets, metal bins, or holed cardboard boxes with no light coming onto the crop.