Tips for Growing Root Vegetables

When seeking out what to plant next in your spring garden, Root Vegetables are always a great choice. Not only are root veggies incredibly rewarding, but they are beginner-friendly! Here at Rohrer's, we've gathered some great tips and tricks over the years that can help maximize the potential growth of your garden. 

Pick the right spot and soil

For growing root veggies, the placement is important. Pick a spot in your yard that receives good sunlight but remains relatively cool. In warmer temperatures, root plants focus on producing greens and flowers to create seeds. But in cool temps, its sole focus will be growing to a bigger and better tasting root. To create the proper soil environment, keep the soil light and fluffy. Mixing in organic compost can also ensure that the soil is perfectly healthy for the growing roots.

What to feed your roots

Keeping the soil moist and rich will ensure that each root has enough nutrients and water to maximize growth. Maintain a water schedule that ensures that the soil is watered enough to reach the root base. Applying a mulch layer assists with keeping the soil moist without the fear of over-watering. Fertilizer isn’t necessary but if your soil has too much nitrogen present, a supplement of potassium and phosphorus-based fertilizers may increase the health of the roots. For this application, bone meal or blood meal fertilizers would be great additions!

Spacing and thinning

When planting your root veggie seeds, it’s best to maintain at least 2 inches of spacing between each seed. Over-crowding can increase the risk of some roots being stunted due to the competition for nutrients and sunlight. If you don’t plant them with the exact spacing necessary, no problem! You can always remove some unhealthy or smaller sprouts to ensure that the healthy ones have enough space. 

Depth

When planting individual seeds, sowing them at the right depth can greatly increase their chances of growing healthy. For small seeds such as carrots and radishes, plant ¼” to ½” inches deep. For larger root seeds such as beets and turnips, it’s best to plant between ½” to 1” inch depth. 

Keep an eye on them

Always inspect your plants regularly. Keeping vigilance allows you to protect and make preparations for your veggies against common pests and diseases. Common pests like beetles and aphids can eat away at your veggies. Neem oil is a great preventer of many pets and can be used easily on root veggies. 

Need a place to start? Here are some root vegetables and varieties from our selection we’d recommend!

Carrots

• Kuroda

Beets

• Red Ace

Radishes

• Gourmet mix

Turnips

• Purple top

Potatoes

• Lehigh

Parsnips

• Hollow Crown

Onions

• Stuttgarter