Root vegetables have been popular staples of many cultures for thousands of years, and come in many varieties. They can sometimes be challenging to plant since they grow beneath the soil, and require direct seeding into loose soil to allow their roots to flourish. Harvesting them also requires some finesse since their edible parts grow out of sight, and we often don’t know if the tubers or taproots are ready until we pull them out of the soil.
Generally, root vegetables are best planted during cooler seasons and in looser soils. “Most of these crops grow and taste the best when planted in July or August for fall harvesting. Plus, colors on the roots will develop more vibrantly in cool soils,” says Daniel Yoder, a research product technician at Johnny’s Selected Seeds, in Maine.
