Tips for Growing Root Vegetables | Jung Seed Gardening Blog

Looking for a head start in the garden this spring? Root crops are tough veggies that like cool weather and allow you to plant early. But that’s not all! You can add another round of crops in midsummer for a fall harvest. Many of these plants are extra hardy and let you harvest beyond the first frost to extend your season.

Essential Tips for Root Crops

Freshly picked carrots and beetroots on vegetable bed in the garden

Root crops are easy to grow but have a few requirements. Check out these tips before planting:

These plants grow best when directly seeded into the garden or containers.
Root crops thrive in loose, non-compacted soil. If your garden has heavy soil, consider growing these plants in containers or using raised beds. I’ve had success with carrots, beets, and radishes on my patio for several years.
Full sun is ideal for any root crop, but some will tolerate part shade.
You can start planting root crops outside from mid-April to Early May. Be sure to read the instructions on the seed packet for exact planting times in your region. You can also have a fall harvest, as many root crops will survive a light frost or freeze.
Water the plants deeply to help their roots develop. Shallow watering leads to smaller roots.
Add root crops between rows of larger veggies, like tomatoes or cucumbers, to fill the space while those plants are small. Since the root crops are planted early, you’ll be done harvesting before the large plants fill the space.

How to Grow Popular Root Crops: Vegetable-Specific Tips

Beets

Have you ever roasted beets in the oven? Fresh beets are often overlooked but deserve their spot in the garden and kitchen. They can also tolerate more shade and cold than other root crops. A few varieties to grow are Ruby Queen, Detroit Supreme, and Bohan. Like many root crops, you can also eat the green tops! Here are tips for growing Beets:

Each seed contains 2 to 6 plants, so you’ll want to thin the plants one month after planting. The final spacing should be 2-4″ apart for each plant.
Beets like loose, deep soil to form their roots. Their roots can even grow 3 feet deep, according to Cornell University.
They should be sown 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost in spring. Fall crops should be planted in July or early August in the Midwest.
With a little patience, sugar beets are a good addition to the garden. They take about 110 days to mature, so plan to sow them early in the season.

Carrots

Until the 17^th century, orange carrots were rare! Most of them were purple, red, yellow, or white. In most places, orange carrots have taken over, but you can grow those other colors too! Some unique varieties are Dragon, Purple Haze, and Atomic Red. All you need is deep, loose soil to let those roots grow deep. Check out these tips for your next crop:

Sow the seeds in late spring or midsummer for the best results. Make sure the soil always remains moist after planting.
Carrot seeds are tiny, which makes them tricky to sow. The easiest planting method for me is placing one or two seeds in each hole about ½” apart. It takes some time, but you’ll have fewer plants to thin later.
After a few weeks, thin the carrots and leave two inches between plants. Pulling the extra plants could damage the other plants, so cut the tops instead of pulling.
If you’re planting in spring, add a layer of grass clippings or other mulch over the plants to keep the soil temperature cooler in summer. Warm soil causes the roots to stay small and bland. If you plant in midsummer, the soil will naturally cool as the harvest arrives in the fall.
After the harvest, cut off the green tops before storing the carrots. Leave about one inch of green at the base.

Radishes

If you’re looking for a quick and easy snack, grow radishes. While they don’t like summer heat, the plants mature in less than 30 days. This lets you plant a new crop each week in spring, followed by another round of crops in early fall. Here’s what you should know before growing them:

The classic varieties, like Cherry Belle, are popular with new and experienced gardeners. You can also grow unusual varieties, like Red Head, Red Meat, and French Breakfast.
Extend your harvest with Chinese Winter Radishes. A friend of mine was harvesting these in early December, and the roots were over a foot long! They take a bit longer to mature (60 days) but are worth the wait. With such long roots, this type of radish is popular for breaking up hard soil.
Harvest the entire crop at once. Radishes will quickly turn bad if they’re in the ground too long. After harvest, store the roots in a fridge if they’re not being used right away.
You may notice a tiny insect called flea beetles eating the leaves, but don’t worry. The rapid growth of these plants will outgrow any damage from the beetles.
Grow radishes as a trap crop. This means planting a crop to attract pests and keep them away from other plants in the garden (The radish is like a decoy). Radishes are often grown near members of the cabbage family (Broccoli, cabbage, kale, etc.) to keep flea beetles away from the seedlings of broccoli or cabbage.

Turnips

In many ways, turnips are like beets. They love cool weather and make a great addition to a cooked dish. The green tops are tasty too! Purple Top White has been popular for decades, offering a sweet, mild flavor.

If you’re only eating the greens, space the plants close together. Young leaves have the best flavor, so plan to harvest them early and frequently.
Turnip roots should be harvested when they’re 1-3″ inches wide. However, smaller turnips have better flavor.
When you’re planting the seeds, scatter them and harvest the leaves to thin the plants.

Even with limited space, there’s always room for a root crop or two.