How Do Roots Absorb Water

Just let them sit on the counter in a cool room, and they'll last several months before sprouting. The longer you can leave the tubers in the soil, the better. Because oca plants are not winter hardy in the north, they'll need to be protected from early...

Space sweet potato slips about 12 inches apart in a row on top of the planting berm. What's better than a sweet potato? Slips are simply rooted stem cuttings of sweet potato vines, usually about 4 or 5 inches in length.

I asked a farmer friend who said that she always learned that you should plant daikon as a fall crop, not a spring crop. As I thought about it, I realized that we had a very cool spring here in Kentucky, which may have prevented the daikon from bolting...

You can more carefully monitor the nutrients the plants receive. Grow carrots in containers for an excellent harvest of perfectly straight, delicious roots. Step 1: Select Your Container If you plan to grow full-sized carrots, pick a pot that's at least...

For long-term storage, pack layers of unwashed roots in a bin or tub of damp sand in a root cellar or cold basement. Work the garden's soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches and add lots of organic matter prior to planting.

When To Harvest Just like garlic and onions, shallots are ready for harvest when the leaves turn yellow and begin to die back. They'll last for many months. If you'd rather pick your shallots a few at a time, rather than harvesting them all at once, just...

Standout beet varieties in my garden include: Golden : a mellow, yellow-fleshed beet Red Ace: a good, old-fashioned standby Carrots Although they germinate best in slightly warmer soil, carrots can still be planted up to four weeks before your last expected...

Marketers in Louisiana, where the orange-fleshed varieties were first grown, wanted to distinguish them from the traditional yellow or white-fleshed types, then grown on the East Coast.

Avoid Extreme Temperatures If you are hoping for good spring/summer fennel, you will need to start the plants indoors four to five weeks before your last frost date. Fennel is a versatile root vegetable and herb that can be grown in both spring and fall...

Kennebec is a great potato variety to grow here in the Northeast. We eat any that get cut or bruised during harvest within a few days. On a whim, I decided to plant potatoes this year and I'm so glad I did—75 pounds of delicious potatoes await the dinner...

Horseradish can be used similarly to a mustard or ginger poultice to break up congestion. I invariably pick a day that is too cold to grind the roots outside. As you pull large roots out of the soil, small rootlets remain behind to make new plants.

Because its productivity is so closely linked to the weather, spinach harvests can be erratic from year to year for many gardeners. Spinach can be grown under floating row cover to prevent leaf miner and aphid damage.

On the other hand, if the soil gets too wet in the later stages of root development, carrots will split open and might show signs of rot. Keep in mind, though, that a pH test should be performed every two or three years as the effects of lime or sulfur...

For a colorful, hearty vegetable to kick off your spring garden, make space for radishes. Make these radish recipes from HobbyFarms.com: Bread-and-Butter Pickled Radishes Buttermilk-Braised Radishes Spring Dip with Cucumber, Chives and Radishes Wild Pickled...

Jerusalem artichokes, aka sunchokes, can be eaten like a potato and are great for restoring the digestive fire in your gut. Ours grow at least 6 feet high and have a decidedly purple undertone to the green in the leaves and stem.

“They are an ideal location to grow carrots,” Fendley says. Tags Apiaceae family , carrots , celery , parsnips , soil pH Parsnips are particularly sensitive to thinning or hard weeding near the root because they have a tendency to form a less uniform...

Soil requirements: Average, well-drained soil high in organic matter. Roots (and greens) are sweetened by frosts. They boast a mild, crisp, tender flesh with a surprisingly delicate flavor.

Then, once the ears start to form, put a fence around them or a dog to protect them from raccoons and other critters. Don't be discouraged by this list, but rather, use it as a guide.

According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, rutabagas prefer a soil pH of 6.4 to 6.8 for highest performance and flavor. Be sure to prepare the beds well with an inch or so of compost and a good preemptive cultivation before planting.

Pay special attention to the watering of such plants, as the root zone conditions are what will often make or break this plant. In shopping, I compared two options. A repotted plant will suffer less from transplant shock than it would from suffocation...

Get more growing advice from HobbyFarms.com: 15 Tips for Growing Perfect Eggplants How to Grow Beans 9 Soil Tips for Growing Better Asparagus 4 Compact Squash That Save Garden Space 4 Orchard Fruits You Never Thought to Grow About the Author: Horticulturist...

The sweetness of the flesh is accentuated by hints of pineapple and citrus. Tags Dirt On Gardening , Lists , white vegetables They're full of numerous vitamins and other nutrients, even though they aren't full of color.

Choose a Planting Method Many methods of planting potatoes exist: Plant the tubers in rows, 6 inches deep and 12 inches apart. Wait for the Harvest As your potato crop continues to grow, aside from regularly watering your spuds, there's little to do until...

Originally bred in Russia and northern Scandinavia, these roots weren't grown in North America until the early 1800s. However, rutabagas are primarily grown for their starchy root that has a texture similar to a turnip or parsnip .

It has not become very popular in the U.S. However, those who are familiar with it are singing its praises as a versatile vegetable.For starters, celeriac is very nutritious. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon...

However, there are some varieties of artichokes—including Imperial Star, the one I'm growing—will grow in colder climates if afforded extra winter protection. Although I did manage to harvest a basket or two of tomatoes, many of the fruits ended up...

By the time October rolls around, your celeriac crop will be ready to harvest. This under-rated root vegetable rarely makes an appearance on our dinner tables—but it should! Store peeled roots in water to keep them from turning brown.