How to Grow
3 Common Root Vegetables that can be Grown at Home
We all know that vegetables are the main source of food. These vegetables can be any part of the plants. They can be flowers, fruits or leaves. Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli etc., comes under the category of flowers. Brinjal, Tomato, Beans etc., come under fruits and Coriander, Palak, Methi etc., come under leaves. Apart from these categories, there is one more category of vegetables. They are root vegetables. These vegetables are basically the root part of the plant that grows under the soil. There are many such root vegetables. Today let us discuss about some of the root vegetables.
1. Carrot:
a. Plant category: Vegetable.
b. Germination time: 15 to 20 days.
c. The temperature required: 12°C to 26°c.
d. Harvest time: 60 to 75 days from germination.
Image source
Carrot is one of the most commonly used vegetables across the world. It is a hard vegetable which is mostly orange or red in color. It can be consumed both cooked as well as raw. Carrot is a single produce crop that can be grown at home without any special knowledge. Winter and rainy seasons are the best seasons to grow carrots. It needs wet soil and cold weather to grow well. They can be either grown in pots or directly in the land. As we know Carrot need cool weather they grow quickly in 12°c to 26°c temperature. At this temperature, Carrot’s germination process will be very quick. It will take 15 to 20 days to germinate from sowing. During that period soil should be moist.
We can maintain the seeds in the tray at the beginning. But when the plant reaches 2 to 3 inches in length it requires some more space to grow. Sowing directly into the pot or to the land is the best way to cultivate. I suggest using nutrient-rich soil to sow the seeds as they contain all the required nutrients. As carrot plants prefer moist soil, it is better to mix cocopeat with soil. Coco peat has the ability to hold water. Keep the plants outdoor because Carrot needs 3 to 4 hours sunlight everyday. Once the saplings are transplanted, they should be treated with good fertilizers. Using an organic fertilizer is better. They do not spoil the natural essence of the soil.
Watering tips:
As I have mentioned earlier, Carrot is a cool weather crop. So it takes more water to grow. If we are providing proper water it will grow soon. Below instructions will help you while watering
Summer: Water should be two days once. In case the top surface of the soil is fully dry spray the water once again.
Winter: Water should be three days once
Rainy: If rainwater is flowing to the plant, no need of watering. In case not, water it once in three days.
Harvesting:
If you are providing proper water, Fertilizer and compost, carrots will take 60 to 75 days to grow from the day of germination. Most of the carrots are ready to harvest when the shoulders are 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter, but again, there is much variation depending on the variety. We have to remove the complete plant by the hedge shear safely. It can’t grow again.
2. Radish:
a. Plant category: Vegetable.
b. Germination time: 5 to 8 days.
c. The temperature required: 15°C.
d. Harvest time: 30 to 45 days from germination.
Radish is another root vegetable that is used widely across the world. This vegetable comes in two shapes namely round and long. It is either white or red in color. Similar to carrot, radish is also a single produce crop. It can be either consumed raw or cooked. Radish is a cool weather crop so we can grow in the winter season. Cool climate helps to germinate quickly and healthy. Radishes need 15°c temperature to grow well. At this temperature, it gives a good yield. Radish takes 5 to 8 days to germinate from the seeds. During the germination process, we should keep the soil moist and provide sufficient water on time.
Before sprouting, we can maintain the seeds in a tray. Later it needs more space to develop the roots. So once the plant reaches 2 to 3 inches, transplant to the pot or directly to the land. Using nutrient-rich soil with organic fertilizer makes the plant grow better and healthy. You can also mix cocopeat with the soil and then transplant the saplings. Radish plant needs a minimum of 5 to 6 hours of sunlight. So, if you are planning to grow the plant indoors, make sure to select the place with sufficient sunlight.
Watering tips:
You need to water the radish once a day during summer, and once in 2 days during winter and rainy season. Make sure not to over water, else the root of the plant gets rotten.
Harvesting:
Image source
Radish will be ready for the harvest within 30 to 45 days of germination. You need to harvest the radish before the root is 1 inch in diameter. Do not leave them in the soil long after their mature stage. Remove the plant, cut off the green part and use the radish. As they are single produce crop, they do not grow again.
Beetroot:
a. Plant category: Vegetable.
b. Germination time: 10 to 15 days.
c. The temperature required: 10°c to 23°c.
d. Harvest time: 55 to 75 days from germination.
Beetroot is another popularly known vegetable with its deep purple color. It is a round shaped vegetable that can be consumed both raw as well as cooked. As beetroots are root vegetables, these are also single produce crops. Similar to Carrot and Radish, Beetroot is also a winter season crop. It requires cool weather to grow. It germinates faster in the winter season as this plant needs a lot of moisture. It requires nearly 10°C - 23°C temperatures. In this temperature, beetroot grows well. It takes 10 to 15 days to germinate from the seeds. You can either use a seedling tray to germinate the seeds and transfer the sapling to a bigger pot later or directly sow the seeds in the ground. Make sure to provide good quality potting mix so that the plants grow well.
Mixing the cocopeat with the soil is a good idea to grow these plants as they prefer moist growing medium. Cocopeat is made of coconut fiber which has a good water holding capacity. Hence plants get ample time to get in contact with water. I suggest using organic fertilizers and compost instead of chemical fertilizers. You can also prepare organic compost at your house out of the kitchen waste using the composter kit. This not only avoids the wastage of food but also provides chemical free compost to your lovely garden.
Watering tips:
In the rainy season, most all plants do not take more water. It requires less watering to grow.
In Summer: Water 3 days once.
In Winter: 5 to 6 days once.
In Rainy: No need in case rainwater directly flowing to the plant. Otherwise 15 days once.
This suggestion is with the assumption that you use cocopeat based potting mix.
Harvesting:
Beetroots will take 55 to 75 days to reach harvesting stage from the day of germination. Till the harvest, we need to care for the plant by providing the water, potting mix, and essential nutrients. When the top side of the leaves reaches 6 to 7 inches in the length, it is ready to harvest. You could see the Beetroot shooting up from the soil. You can remove the fully grown beetroots with bare hands or use a trowel. As beetroots are single produce crop, they do not grow again.
Popular Searches: Garden Accessories for Sale, Compost Bin India, Plastic Flower Pots Online, Contemporary Plant Pots, Hanging Pots Online, Colourful Plant Pots, Bird Feeders Online, Rectangular Planters Online, Small Pots Online, Flower Pots Online, Kitchen Waste Compost Bin, Balcony Railing Planter
Very good for a novice like me