Growing Unusual Root Crops in Alabama
In most of Alabama, unusual root crops go in from late March into early April, but the soil sets the real date, not the calendar.
Garden
Growing food and flowers, season by season
Which of These Are Actually Worth the Space
Kohlrabi and horseradish earn their spot in almost any yard. Celeriac does too, as long as you can give it a long growing season and steady water.
Planting Dates for Four Different Crops
Kohlrabi goes in first, about two to four weeks before your last spring frost.
Watering Root Crops for a Smooth Swelling
Steady moisture beats generous moisture. For most unusual roots, that means about an inch of water a week (rain included), delivered in a slow, deep…
Why Jerusalem Artichokes Disagree With People
Jerusalem artichokes cause gas and bloating because the tuber stores its energy as inulin, a chain of fructose molecules that human digestive enzymes…
Keeping These Roots Through the Winter
Cold, damp and dark: that is the recipe for storing unusual roots, and it works for most of them.
The Soil These Roots Want
Four crops, three different soil personalities. Celeriac wants rich, moist ground and punishes neglect. Kohlrabi wants fertile soil that isn’t acidic.
Rotating Four Crops From Four Families
Four crops, four families? Not quite. Celeriac belongs to the carrot family (Apiaceae), kohlrabi and horseradish are both brassicas (Brassicaceae), and…
What Attacks These Four Crops
Each of these four crops has its own short list of troublemakers, and the lists overlap less than you’d expect.
Leaving These Roots in the Soil Over Winter
Two of the four stay put without complaint. Jerusalem artichokes and horseradish are hardy perennials that do better, and taste better, when left in the…