Spreaded Roots
Roots play a vital role in the growth of a plant. Growing root vegetables, like carrots, beets, and turnips, possesses a unique challenge as they are grown inside the soil. We often don’t know whether there’s a concern unless we harvest them since the edible component develops underground and out of sight. Root crops should be capable of sending down roots in loose soil. The roots will become twisted and lobed if the soil is compact or rough. In this article, we will look at several examples of plants that reproduce by roots and their characteristics.
Table of Contents
What Functions Does a Root Perform?
The roots of a healthy plant serve a variety of purposes. The roots hold the plant firmly in a place resisting the pressures of water, wind, and mudflow. The root system absorbs oxygen, water, and minerals from the soil and transports them to the stems, leaves, and buds of the plant. The energies produced by the plant during photosynthesis are frequently stored in the roots and made available to the plant as required. Plant roots also promote and facilitate soil microorganisms that are beneficial to plant growth. Plant roots help to avoid soil erosion, support the growth of sustenance and offer us direct nutrition. Carrots, turnips, beets, and a variety of other root vegetables are great examples of roots that store plant-produced energy. We frequently sow crops in order to rehabilitate deficient soils in preparation for upcoming crop production. Here are ten examples of plants that reproduce by roots and how you should start growing them in your home.
1. Beetroot
Beetroot Plant
Beets are root vegetables, but their leaves are also tasty. Tapering the plants is possibly the hardest part of cultivating beets. The seeds grow in clusters, similar to Swiss chard, and when the clusters are not broken apart, the sprouting seeds would be too crowded to grow into bulbs. To promote germination, put the beetroot seeds in water at room temperature overnight. Beets grow swiftly and taste best when picked while they are fresh and small. Grow a succession of beetroot plants as you harvest to ensure a steady supply. They are remarkably sweet in taste and deep reddish in color and appearance.
2. Carrots
Carrots Plucked From a Tuber
Carrots are another popular root vegetable, but the long, slender carrots we see most require multiple months to develop as there are several pests in between the soil that will devour your carrots before they reach maturity. If you ever faced trouble producing carrots in the past, try one of the shorter kinds, such as ‘Paris Market’ or ‘Little Finger.’ They grow up faster, are as delicious and crisp as bigger carrots, and you may start eating them earlier in the summer by succession gardening. To enable you to distinguish your soil rows, plant several radish seeds with your carrots. Carrots must also be trimmed to allow ample room for the roots to grow and develop. If you are thinking to plant the carrots in thick or compacted soil, you should put some more sand into the carrot bed before planting it.
3. Horseradish
Horseradish Plant
Horseradish is a very easy to grow root vegetables, but a small amount goes a long way. Unfortunately, even a small amount of horseradish can be difficult to cultivate. In most locations, the plants are perennial, therefore if you keep any root in the soil, it will soon re-grow and propagate. Therefore don’t let that put you off. It’s always possible to grow horseradish it in a pot. Or, following the advice of professional growers, dig up the entire field of horseradish, consider it as an annual crop, and start over the rest of the season.
4. Onions and Shallots
Onion and Shallots Tubers
Onions are rather simple to grow vegetables that develop from roots. It takes real effort to cultivate them. You have three choices: grow them off seed, grafts, or sets, which are small dried onion bulbs. The grafts are the simplest to plant (while the costliest) and develop the fastest. Water sparingly when starting from seed, as the little, thin seedlings are susceptible to drying out. Onions are also divided into three categories based on the time of day. There are three types of days: short, long, and middle. The duration of the day and the amount of sunlight available will impact the performance of your onion plants, so make sure to select the type for your weather and growing season. Shallots are also a kind of root vegetable but they grow during the fall season. The shallots have a mild taste and resemble garlic. The bulb of each shallot should be harvested during the onset of the summer season.
5. Parsnips
Parsnips
Parsnips thrive well in most climates and can be stored for months, even sweetening with chilling. Carrots and potatoes, which are simpler to cultivate and produce earlier, have taken their place in this list of plants reproducing by leaves. Talking about this plant, the flavor of parsnips can make the effort and delay worthwhile. The flavors range from slightly nutty to honey-sweet. Raw, blended, sauteed, and grilled parsnips are all delicious options. They take up to 3 months to develop, so bear that in mind. Hence, plant your seeds earlier, then sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
6. Potatoes
Potato Tubers
Although potatoes are a stems tuber rather than a root crop, they are cultivated and produced in the same way as other root crops. Potatoes come in an astounding variety, and the only place to begin them all is to grow them yourselves. They are simply started from actual potato chunks and develop quickly, despite the presence of multiple bugs fighting for their attention. Packaged potatoes supplied for eating are occasionally treated to prevent sprouting, thus seed potatoes must be acquired for planting. Include two eyeballs for each cut piece while harvesting seed potatoes for sowing. Allow the cut pieces to dry for a day or two to allow the sliced surface to solidify. This protects your “seed” against illnesses and decay spread by the soil. As quickly as the green leafy part of the saplings breaches soil, sow your potato seeds skin side down and begin mounding up from around seedlings. Potatoes are very easy to cultivate in containers, and harvesting them is as simple as flipping the container over.
7. Radishes
Radish Tubers
Radishes come into the group of root plants that grow quickly and are simple to toss into a salad. They are among the most simple veggies to produce and make a wonderful addition to a toddler’s gardening. To avoid bolting, they need chilly temperatures, consider getting your seeds in as soon as the topsoil warms up. Radishes come in a wide range of colors, featuring long, sliver-thin radishes, spicy radishes, and winter radishes, which make a delicious roasted side dish mouth-watering.
8. Rutabagas
Rutabagas
Rutabagas is a multipurpose root vegetable with a crisp cabbage-like taste when it is used raw, but once cooked, they lighten up to a buttery lusciousness. They are so excellent that they are utilized in pies. They are simple to grow, have minimal pest concerns and don’t take up a lot of areas. Rutabagas require a 90-day growth cycle or longer, therefore if your growing season is shorter, plant your seedlings in as soon as possible. Rutabagas can be preserved for months if stored properly.
9. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potato Tubers
Sweet potatoes are tuber roots that are often developed from slips, that is little rooted tuber portions. Since they require a four-month growth season, they are rarely produced in milder areas. There are, however, cultivars that are more suitable to northern gardens, and it is rather simple to begin planting in containers and then transplant them after the soil has heated. You may easily produce your own slips by submerging one end of a tiny sweet potato in water in a vase or small jar. The eyeballs on the potato will continue to send out fresh green development in a few weeks. Remove the young bud from the potato, keeping a little piece of the potato. You can start planting in 4 inches of potato pots or you can directly sow them into your garden.
10. Turnips
Turnip Tubers
Turnips have a greater variety than you may expect. For starters, both the leaves and the root bulb are edible. Although the leafy vegetable sections of turnips are by far the most nutritive, the root of the plant can also be used to make some delicious recipes. The greens will continue to resprout if you pluck them while they are still young. Not all turnips have purple tops, either. Sweet, small golden turnips and rich, vivid red turnips are also available. The best part is that they’re all simple to grow up and mature quickly. Within two months, you may well be eating turnips if you start growing now.
