Bare Root Plants

The longer you can leave the tubers in the soil, the better. Cover the plants with a plastic sheet until the end of December. You do not need to shield them from light, nor do they need to be stored in a particular way.

Curing reduces shrinkage, prolongs storage and results in a sweeter flavor due to the conversion of starches to sugars. Harvesting Purple Sweet Potatoes Although you can harvest the occasional tuber anytime after the plants come into flower, plan to harvest...

The radishes provide an early harvest, and they help with spacing out the carrot seeds more evenly. In late May, as I was harvesting pounds of lovely daikon radishes, I looked around farmers markets in both Kentucky and Baltimore and was surprised to...

Carrots are a favorite of munching rabbits, groundhogs and deer. Do not allow mature roots to sit in the pot for too long, or they'll grow woody and the roots may crack. Grow carrots in containers for an excellent harvest of perfectly strait, delicious...

Golden beets, Chioggia beets and Albino beets are my personal favorites. For long-term storage, pack layers of unwashed roots in a bin or tub of damp sand in a root cellar or cold basement.

Sets planted in fall are pulled the following spring, and spring plantings are harvested anytime from mid-summer through late fall of the same season. Shallot bulbs are beautiful: They're tapered at both ends and have pink or brown, papery skins, depending...

Try these varieties. For best results, plant the seeds according to package instructions as early as four to eight weeks before your last expected spring frost. And, don't plant the seeds too deeply; 1/4 inch below the soil surface is the perfect depth.

Sweet Potato Pests and Diseases The main sweet-potato pests are insects, nematodes and diseases that affect the roots. Most of the increase in tuber size occurs during the last three or four weeks before harvest.

NAA tends to be toxic to seedling root development, as it inhibits primary root growth and enhances lateral root growth. Further research throughout the last half of the 20th century investigating the application of auxins to root systems suggested that...

It stores well in a cold cellar (optimum storage temperatues are just above freezing) and is an excellent fresh vegetable that is available from autumn through winter when many other fresh vegetables are in short supply.

When making your choice, read the description thoroughly to ensure you're getting the right variety for your growing zone and preferred use. To avoid a disappointing growing season next year, renew the soil with good compost after harvesting fennel and...

That's a lot of spuds! If you grow potatoes and you don't harvest new potatoes, you're missing out. Kennebec is a great potato variety to grow here in the Northeast. Use your home-grown potatoes in these recipes : Oven Lamb Stew with New Potatoes and...

I invariably pick a day that is too cold to grind the roots outside. As you harvest and thin, the plants become more robust and more healthy, spreading out into the space their neighbor once occupied.

Size: 10 to 12 inches Sunlight requirements: Full sun (will tolerate partial shade) Water requirements: About 1 inch per week—consistent moisture is key, so mulching well is recommended.

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. Exposure to sunlight can cause the shoulders to turn green and bitter.

They are a clear sign of flea beetles, a common radish pest. Soil pH can also be a factor when growing radish. Having too much nitrogen in the soil is another no-no for radishes and other root crops.

If you would like to keep digging through the winter months, cover the area with a thick mulch to keep the ground from freezing. Your gut will thank you for it! Read up on other root vegetables to add to your garden: Crop Profile: Sweet Potatoes Video:...

While this requires more time up front, it pays off later in the season with less weeding and thinning. Raised beds are an option for growers in areas with clay or other hard soils.

When to plant: Best planted in late summer for fall harvests, but can be grown season-long. Roasted turnips are delicious, as are braised turnip greens with a touch of garlic and olive oil.

This may sound like a big job, but most squash germinate in just a few days. But the fall is far and away the easiest time to grow. Tomatoes Andrew M. Perhaps discouraged by summer failures, too few gardeners plant fall gardens.

If these are seen, remove the infected plants from the garden and preferably from the farm. Planting in an area with good ventilation, while taking care not to overwater, will help keep plants disease-free.

I used to think that any plant up for sale had been lovingly nurtured.Surely it had led a charmed life in some lovely rural setting, allowed to stretch its roots and thrive. The top of the "soil surface" was a solid mat of sphagnum moss.

Many of the nutrients contained in radishes are found in the colorful skin. Root crops thrive in a pH range between 6 and 7, and they use good amounts of phosphorus and moderate amounts of nitrogen.

Although the flavor is fairly mild, it does develop a bit of spice when the weather warms. The sweetness of the flesh is accentuated by hints of pineapple and citrus. Easy to grow in containers or in the garden, Japanese White is a great choice for growers...

The first step in growing great potatoes is selecting the best variety for your climate and your tastes. In cooler climates, potatoes can be planted as early as two to three weeks before the average last-frost date in spring, but only if the soil has...

My favorite way to use homegrown rutabagas is as a mash. Tags The Dirt on Gardening Mix the boiled roots with buttermilk and butter and mash as you would potatoes. The plants are large and leafy, and they require a long growing season to form a substantially...

Squeeze the juice of 1- 2 lemons into a large bowl of cold water and keep it close by as you work with the celery root. It is high in antioxidants, as well as vitamin K. Cook, stirring from time to time, until the vegetables develop some color -- about...