Ready for roots? Crops for direct seeding in May

Not too late to direct sow root crops

Missed starting your tomatoes?  Didn't quite get to the winter sowing method or starting seeds indoors?  No worries, early May is a great time to plant seeds of many root crops.  Cool evening temperatures won’t bother radish, kohlrabi, beets, turnips, rutabaga, onions, carrots and parsnips.  These are crops that can be planted by seed directly into garden beds. Containers that are deeper than 12” are ok for root crops.

Here is a video from Daisy Creek Farms  that shows basics of growing root crops. Oregon State University sums up info about growing various root crops in written form.

Root crop bonuses

One advantage of root crops is that you can typically eat the green tops too!  You get 2 harvests for each plant.  Substitute beet greens wherever you might use spinach or chard, or try making a pesto recipe using carrot or radish tops.  Plant spacing for root crops is usually 2-6 inches, so they are ideal for small-space gardens.  Also, if you have a plot that tends to have trouble with vandalism or theft, root crops are usually overlooked since  the vegetable is hidden under the soil.

#OutPlantTheOutbreak

 Locations and all tips found at #OutPlantTheOutbreak  blogpage