You heard Punxsutawney Phil–we’ve still got several more weeks of winter before we welcome spring. And while we think of the warmer seasons as the ideal time to start a garden, that’s not always the case.
Root vegetables are easy to grow and even easier to enjoy. Best of all, you don’t have to wait a second to start planting: root vegetables grow best in cooler weather and some are even resilient to frost (looking at you, carrots!).
Some varieties of root vegetables include potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, parsnips and rutabaga. If you are looking to grow in a container, we recommend small potatoes, ginger, beets, carrots and turnips, all of which take well to growing in smaller spaces.
Are you ready to get started on your own garden? If you’re still on the fence, here are a few more reasons there’s no time like the present to root yourself in root vegetables.
While some of us have a tendency to think that large vegetables need a large garden, that is not always the case. Root vegetables–even the big ones–do well in containers, if they have the right set up.
You’ll want to start with a very large container, one that has lots of holes in the bottom or a fabric that promotes drainage. Fill it with rich, moist potting soil that has plenty of fertilizer and is loose enough that their roots can stretch with ease. Find a sunny spot on your patio or in your backyard, and give the whole thing a thorough soaking around once a week. Let nature take it from there.
It’s time to harvest around six to eight weeks after planting. For potatoes, you’ll want to take some sort of long, pointed object and dig in the soil to excavate. Other options such as carrots, garlic, and onions can simply be pulled out by the root, since they have a little less heft.
If you thought growing root vegetables was a breeze, just wait until you get to eat them. Root vegetables are packed with nutrients such as potassium, folate, fiber, and complex carbohydrates, all of which are essential for overall health and peak wellness.
Cooking with root vegetables is also enjoyable, with hundreds of ways to get them warm, crisp, and full of flavor. If you are just starting out, we recommend our rosemary-roasted root vegetables, a winter staple you’ll come back to again and again.
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