Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange
Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [root-vegetables]

Use this tag for questions on plants with an underground edible part that is used as a vegetable. Examples: Carrots, beets, potatoes, onions, ginger, etc.

In horticulture, agriculture, and culinary usage, the term "root vegetable" refers to any plant with an edible part below ground. However, botany distinguishes between true roots (tuberous roots and taproots) and non-roots (tubers, rhizomes, corms, bulbs).

Here are some examples of this classification:

True root vegetables:

  • Taproot Carrot, parsnip, radish
  • Tuberous Root Sweet potato, cassava

Non-roots eaten as vegetables:

  • Corm Chinese water chestnut
  • Rhizome Turmeric, root ginger
  • Tuber Potato, yams
  • Bulb Onion, garlic

Corms, Rhizomes, and Tubers are considered "modified stems" rather than true roots.

80 questions
13
votes
1 answer

How can I ensure a crop of potato seeds?

Background: I did an experiment where I put the cut seed potatoes directly onto a live lawn, and then covered with 4" of premium bark mulch. The plants did exceptionally well, and I noticed that a large number of the flowers successfully set fruit.…
J. Musser
  • 51,627
  • 21
  • 115
  • 320
12
votes
2 answers

What is this root "vegetable"?

I planted some beetroot from store bought seedlings in November, and they're fine. But this chap grew up with them, and I don't remember if it came with the others, or just grew from where ever. I just don't know what it is. Doesn't look like a…
Graham Chiu
  • 23,044
  • 5
  • 36
  • 92
12
votes
1 answer

Late-sown Carrots: any particular problems?

I usually sow carrots in early June for lifting in September. This year, I am planning to sow a short-rooted variety in August, for harvesting in November-December, and will use a fleece grow tunnel to protect them from frost Are there any…
Mancuniensis
  • 14,224
  • 1
  • 48
  • 85
11
votes
1 answer

Why does my sweet potato have stunted growth with wide, flattened stems and dense leaves?

My sweet potato plant has a severely widened and flattened stem and grows like a band, with dense leaves and stunted growth. What is wrong with it?
J. Musser
  • 51,627
  • 21
  • 115
  • 320
11
votes
2 answers

Why were my parsnips fat with a woody core?

The last (and only) time I tried growing parsnips ("Harris Model") a couple of years ago, they ended up much "fatter" than the parsnips I've typically seen in the store and in pictures. Instead of being just a bit bigger than carrots, these were…
bstpierre
  • 41,452
  • 7
  • 111
  • 235
10
votes
4 answers

Is it safe to use vegetables which have experienced several frosts?

Most people are aware that once you've had foods out of the freezer and allowed them to thaw, you shouldn't put them back in your freezer. But what about frost hardy plants like leeks? I've just harvested some old onions, leeks and carrots and who…
Tea Drinker
  • 9,513
  • 12
  • 47
  • 113
10
votes
4 answers

Is it okay to grow root vegetables in soil enriched by manure?

I have a few raised beds where I grow vegetables every year (organically). Vegetables I grow include root vegetables (carrots, beets), leafy (kale, lettuce), tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber, etc. Every year I enrich the soil by mixing in some steer…
JStorage
  • 7,844
  • 6
  • 32
  • 72
10
votes
1 answer

Why are my carrots white in the center?

We harvested all of the remaining carrots in our garden, and to our surprise a large number of them are white or bright yellow in the center, rather than being orange all the way through. The white carrots taste fine (very sweet and crunchy), but…
JSBձոգչ
  • 1,756
  • 2
  • 19
  • 22
9
votes
2 answers

How do I cultivate ginger from a piece of root?

A month back, I planted a small portion of Ginger root in a pot and watered it moderately every day. Seeing no results so far, today I cleared the pot and saw that Ginger root had started to decompose instead of rooting. I have no idea what went…
jaczjill
  • 1,589
  • 2
  • 10
  • 33
9
votes
2 answers

Is the "Paris Market" carrot a good variety for clay-rich soil?

I have tried growing carrots now and then, but they were always twisting around all of the rocks and squeezing through the clay, and I basically got a bad crop of strong flavored, tough carrots that were good for nothing. Would a round variety like…
J. Musser
  • 51,627
  • 21
  • 115
  • 320
9
votes
3 answers

Are woodlice eating my carrots?

I lifted some carrots this evening. It being December these are carrots which have been in the ground some time. They're big and fat, they need cleaning up and the damage needs cutting out, but basically most of them is OK to eat. As I clean them up…
Tea Drinker
  • 9,513
  • 12
  • 47
  • 113
9
votes
4 answers

Beet plant - leaves turning yellow-brown

I have a beet plant that I grew from seeds. They started off great and healthy. In fact I plucked some leaves to use in a salad. After that some of the leaves are turning yellow and drying up. What could possibly be the reason?
JStorage
  • 7,844
  • 6
  • 32
  • 72
8
votes
1 answer

How are root vegetables grown in hot climates?

In previous answers, I've mentioned our general lack of success growing root vegetables in North Texas. Carrots and beetroots do not do well at all - roots are few and small. Onions and potatoes do better but watering seems to be a…
winwaed
  • 20,373
  • 4
  • 61
  • 115
8
votes
3 answers

How do I increase the chance of growing a garlic plant from a clove?

A while back I threw out some spoiled-looking garlic cloves only to find them growing quite well in my compost. I'd like to try planting a few (in a container, not the open ground). Can I simply stick them in the soil and water, or do I need to…
wxs
  • 385
  • 1
  • 12
8
votes
3 answers

What relevance does fungal dominance have to a vegetable garden?

I'm mainly attempting to grow vegetables for my family so basically Brassicaceae, Umbelliferae, Asparagaceae, and Solanaceae. I'm certainly not attempting to establish an old forest or even a food forest in the backyard. I gather Brassicaceae…
Graham Chiu
  • 23,044
  • 5
  • 36
  • 92
1
2
3 4 5 6