What Root Is Root Beer Made From

Once the temperatures drop down into the 50s at night, it's time to start checking your tubers. Purple varieties aren't as sweet as other colors, but they sure are beautiful and tasty.

Sometimes breaking the rules turns out OK. I had read that early-sprouting radishes can be a great way to help mark the rows where slow-germinating carrots are planted. Where were they?

Make sure the container has a drainage hole and always allow excess irrigation water to run out; do not let water sit in a saucer beneath the plant or the roots will be constantly waterlogged and could develop rot.

This means multiple plants arise from each planted seed, making thinning absolutely necessary. Thin the seedlings to 3 or 4 inches apart when they're about an inch tall. Most beet seeds are multigerm, meaning each seed contains several embryos, not just...

Jessica Walliser Pop Goes The Shallot As the plants grow, the bulbs sometimes end up pushing themselves out of the soil and growing on the soil surface, rather than below the ground.

Tags Dirt On Gardening , Lists Beets easily germinate in cool soil, but because each beet “seed” is actually a collection of several seeds, remember to thin the young plants for the best root growth.

By April, the sprouts are large enough (12 to 14 inches tall) to take the cuttings. Sweet potatoes like warm weather, sandy soil and a long growing season. Keeping pests out of a growing region has proved to be a far more successful strategy than any...

Sow seeds directly into the garden 1 inch apart and 1/4 inch deep during the summer for a fall harvest. Mulch Established Plants When you're cultivating around fennel, be careful not to disturb the roots with your hoe or cultivator, as it may cause the...

Then I dig around in the loosened soil with my hands and gently remove all the tubers. To harvest new potatoes, I sink a pitchfork into the soil a foot or so away from the base of the plant and gently pry up part of the plant, usually taking three or...

As you pull large roots out of the soil, small rootlets remain behind to make new plants. With the first of the cold snaps these roots regain their firmness and are ready to dig. I have clearly lost some time and am having difficulty accepting that as...

Spinach bolts (or flowers) quickly in warm weather. Bolt resistant varieties are perfect for beginners. Where to plant: Garden; containers When to harvest: 30 to 40 days after seeding, when leaves are 1 to 2 inches in length (baby spinach); 40 to 50 days...

Keep in mind, though, that a pH test should be performed every two or three years as the effects of lime or sulfur are eventually negated and the soil pH will return to its native range.

Waiting too long to harvest will result in woody, pithy roots. Find Soil Balance Another thing to keep in mind for good radish production is that root vegetables of all sorts need phosphorus to develop good roots.

For their medicinal value, it's really best to grow your own and harvest them just as you need them. We wound up sticking them into a spare pile of dirt just off the driveway for safekeeping and now that entire area is filled with sunchokes.

“They are an ideal location to grow carrots,” Fendley says. (Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in rows 12 to 24 inches apart.) Start with fresh seed —this is imperative for parsnips, as the seeds typically don't stay viable for longer than one year.

Roots (and greens) are sweetened by frosts. When to plant: Best planted in late summer for fall harvests, but can be grown season-long. Harvest greens 30 to 40 days after planting.

Why People Fail Starting your plants too late can mean they don't size up, especially with broccoli and cauliflower. And don't overwater. This will help keep the birds out, though, again, they're smart , so you might need a scarecrow, too! Remove the...

Plant several varieties to see which work best for your soil and market. Rutabagas should be planted 90 to 110 days before the intended harvest. This will ensure healthier, more productive plants, a larger yield and a marked reduction in the amount of...

Now I realize these are danger signs. Last month I finally broke down and paid $3.75 for aof unknown but surely lovely bloom color. A repotted plant will suffer less from transplant shock than it would from suffocation or drowning in substandard conditions.

Root crops thrive in a pH range between 6 and 7, and they use good amounts of phosphorus and moderate amounts of nitrogen. If perfect homegrown radishes have eluded you in the past, try again.

White Beauty has been around since the mid-1800s and produces fruits that weigh 1/2 to 1 pound each. Their flavor is mild but may get slightly bitter during hot weather. Extremely crisp and high yielding White Wonder should be picked when the fruits are...

Select Potato Varieties Hundreds of potato varieties exist, many of which boast distinct flavors, colors and textures. The soil-dwelling larvae of several different species of click beetles, wireworms tunnel into the tubers, creating shallow holes that...

The plants are large and leafy, and they require a long growing season to form a substantially sized root. How To Grow Rutabagas Thankfully, rutabagas are very easy to grow, but again, they do require a fairly long season of 90 to 100 days to produce...

When the olive oil becomes fragrant, add the mushrooms and saute for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until they become brown and begin to release some water. Add 1/4 teaspoon sea salt and some freshly ground black pepper and cook for a few more minutes,...

The edible portion of an artichoke is the flower bud, which is harvested when it's still tightly closed and well before any flower color is showing. That being said, many of the other veggies in my garden are still going strong.

Once all the rounds have been breaded, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Butter salt and pepper to taste 2 T. Beneath its gnarled and knobby skin, the flesh of celeriac is pure white, meaty, and oh so delicious.

They're turnips, for Pete's sake. Was the turnip you ate pulled out of the soil the same day it was picked? The roots will reach the perfect size just when frost hits. Try the roots boiled and mashed with butter and browned leeks, roasted in olive oil...