Growing Root Vegetables
Updated June 9, 2022
Video: Harvesting Parisian carrots in the raised bed garden. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and thank you for your support.
NOTES
While the information below generally applies to all root vegetables, I am focusing more on carrots, beets and radish as they have varieties suitable to be growing in containers.
Scroll down for list of vegetable varieties suitable for container growing and online sources where I usually buy seeds and materials.
If you missed the seminar in person, here is the LIVE video from our Facebook Group.
Skip to minute 42:05 for a lovely testimony from one of past workshop participant, Gigi. (thank you! ^_^)
Talking Points from the Seminar
Benefits of growing vegetables in CONTAINERS
No wild critter issues, since you can place the container indoor or a protected area outdoor
Fresh new soil means no weeds or ground pests issues
Perfect for small space or no gardening space
Low entry cost for beginner gardener
Great for kids to participate
Use containers with 10-12” deep and choose appropriate varieties of the root veggies.
Benefits of growing vegetables in GARDEN
There is no limit to the varieties you can grow
More space to plant means more harvest
Extra space allows for companion planting for pest control and to enhance flavor
Installation of drip irrigation makes watering simple
An healthy alternative outdoor activity for kids
Harvesting is a fun and rewarding activities. Even for adults!
The 3 Basic Principles in Organic Gardening
Container or in ground, the basic principles still need to be observed.
SUNLIGHT
Most root vegetables requires 8 hours of sun (full sun). Check the seed packet for specific variety information.
SOIL
For root growth, use soil that is smooth, light, and airy for adequate drainage and optimal root growth.
Container: Use fresh soil
Garden: Rake the soil to clear out chunky materials and weeds
For moisture retention:
Container: vermiculite, peat moss, coconut coir
Garden: Mulch
For nutrients, add phosphorous and potassium, which encourages root growth. Suggested fertilizers are bone meal or general fertilizer with higher content of phosphorous (too much nitrogen will promote foliage growth). There are 3 numbers on a fertilizer package: X-X-X. That refers to N-P-K content in the fertilizer. Look for larger middle and last numbers.
WATERING
Container tends to dry out fast, so make sure to water it deeply and regularly.
Container: check it daily. If still moist, skip the watering.
Garden: drip irrigation. Time it to allow deep watering on each session.
Keep the soil moist, not soggy. Water at soil level, not drenching the foliage to avoid rot.
When sowed at the right time, carrots germinate and grow fast. They love full sun and moist soil. Careful not to have soggy soil when growing in container.
Sowing the seeds
Water the pot or pots of soil thoroughly and let all the water drain through.
Gently sprinkle carrot seeds over the moist soil.
Cover with a 1/4 inch of additional soil, and tamp down gently.
Most root vegetables do not transplant well. While there are ways to do it, it requires practice and a bit of luck.
Best to direct sow then thin later.
Sow in biodegradable pots indoor if you want to get a jump start on the season.
When to sow the seeds (Zone 10) - note that the period is approximate with typical weather with temperature range 55-75F.
BEETS: Mid February to end of March
CARROTS: February to mid March
RADISH: Mid January to end of April
Germination
Carrots up to three weeks
Beets 5-10 days
Radish 5-10 days
Thinning
This refers to taking out extra seedlings (weaker ones) by snipping it off with scissor at the base or pulling it out (typically not recommended). Beets and radish seeds are large enough that you can sow them 1 or 2 at a time. But carrot seeds are small and finer. When you sow the seeds close together they will grow too tight and will lead to growth issues. You need to “thin” the group.
When first set of true leaves appear, trim away the weaker ones with a pair of scissors. Keep in mind the space between the leftover seedlings. Typically you want to keep enough space for the size of each root vegetable to grow into. In a container, you’d want to harvest early while the roots are still smaller. Letting the plat grow too long in the container with not enough space to keep growing could lead to premature bolting.
Carrots: 3”
Radish: 3-4”
Beets: 4”
The top of the root usually pop out of the surface when they are ready. This might not be obvious when there is a thick layer of mulch. When it’s around the time to harvest, brush off the area at the base of the plant to check for readiness.
How do you know when they are ready to harvest?
- READ THE PACKAGE for each variety will be different. In general, carrots takes an average of 60-65 days to mature, with some as early as 55 days and as late as 80.
- Easy indication is the tops of the root are just visible above the soil line.
- Feel the soil with your finger. If you can feel the head forming wide and the roots thicken.
- To harvest, loosen the soil, hold the top of the root body, give the plant a twist, then pull it out. It should be pretty effortless as the soil in the container is airy.
Short carrots are easy to harvest, especially when grown in containers.
What can affect the taste and development of root veggies:
- Rough or hard soil with debris and chunks of materials in the soil cause misshapen roots
- Irregular weather pattern (heat wave or freak frost) could impede growth, affecting taste and texture of the final harvest.
- Irregular watering - dried out soil inhibit nutrients intake of the roots
Pest Management
In a container, this should not be much of an issue as long as fresh soil is used and the plants are thinned adequately for air circulation.
In the garden, pest can be manage using companion planting - plants that attract beneficial insects.
In the case of aphids or leafhoppers and flea beetles, use strong jet of water to dislodge them from the plants. If you have bad infestation, use insecticidal soap.
Too dense of a foliage (not thinning enough) can cause fungal growth - poor air circulation - typically you will see white powdery stuff on the leaves. Take out as much of the affected foliage and spray neem oil mix with water (recipe under resources list below).
Growing Tips
Use loose soil without clods to avoid misshapen roots
Well draining soil helps avoid water logged coil that leads to rot
Soil in container dry out faster, check it daily and water just enough, when the top soil looks dry
Nutrients leeches out as water drains out of the container, so fertilize regularly with low nitrogen, higher in phosphorous fertilizer (every 2 weeks)
When there is not enough lights to grow indoor, use grow light
Beets - To help with germination, soak the pods in warm water for two to three hours before you sow. This helps to open them up.
Parisian Carrots
Plant types
List of carrots, beets and radish for container growing:
CARROTS - Shorter varieties, such as Chantaney, Oxheart and Round carrots.
New Kuroda Carrot
Red Cored Chantenay Carrot
Little Finger Carrot
Short ‘N Sweet Carrot
Scarlet Nantes Carrot
Oxheart Carrot
BEETS - Pretty much any beets can be growing in containers. With a few to highlight.
Early Wonder -fast maturity of 45-50 days
Red Ace hybrid - shallow, lightly sweet roots, can grow in cooler temperature
Moulin Rouge beets - smaller roots, can withstand a lot of sun and heat.
RADISH - Just like beets, radish are perfect container growing vegetables. Most will be ready for harvest in 3-5 weeks.
Cherry Belle
Purple Plum
Easter Egg Blend
List of resources:
Some of the links are Amazon affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using those links I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Seeds:
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds - rareseeds.com
Container:
Soil:
Fox Farm Organic Potting Soil mix - at Glendora Gardens Nursery
Fertilizer:
General Fertilizer (4-6-3)
Bone Meal (higher source of Phosphorous and Potassium)
Neem Oil Spray:
Recipe = 1 tbs Neem Oil + 1 tsp castile soap + 1 gallon water
(option to castile soap is mild dish soap)
This free seminar is part of monthly garden classes by Blissful Growing at the Glendora Gardens nursery.
Blissful Growing, started in 2021 by Catharina ‘Kat’ Soesetyo, a Gardenary Certified Kitchen Garden Consultant. Blissful Growing is a women’s owned small business serves the greater Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley Areas, with the goal of helping others living a healthier and sustainable lifestyle starting with growing food at home.
Ready to start growing vegetables at home? Schedule your free garden call today.
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