Roots

Carrots

This is one of the most common vegetables no only on the British plate but also on the Allotment. With the new varieties now available on the market they are easy to grow.  Saying this Carrots are actiually quite hard to please. Ideally the soil should be sandy and relatively stone free if you want to grow long straight roots. You can't grow carrots on soil that has been recently manured as they just won't grow.  Dig over the bed at least a week before sowing and allow the soil to seetle before planting.

One weeknest is the 'Carrot Root Fly' which is without doubt the biggest problem for carrot growers.

They can be grown successionally over a long season making them pretty much harvestable all year round. They also come in many colours in addition to the popular Orange, including White, Yellow, Red and Purple!

Sowing & Thinning

Early sowings should be made under a 'Cloche' to give some protection from late frosts. Try to sow the seeds thinly to minimise the amount of thinning needed. When you do thin out, try to pick a still downcast day. You are most at risk of attracking 'Carrot Root Fly' when thinning and picking the right conditions will reduce the chances of being invaded. 

Maintenance

Control weeds with the occasional gentle hoeing or even better weeding by hand so as not to damage the roots.
You may consider covering with a very fine netting to prevent the 'Carrot Fly' from attacking the roots.
Water as if the ground is dry to prevent the soil from hardening around the developing roots.

Parsnips

A great winter favourite which has many uses in addition to being roasted on a Sunday.  The biggest difficuly with Parsnips is getting them to germinate. It's best to always buy fresh seed as this should improve your chances of germination. They are notoriously difficult and are one of the seeds that suppliers don't have to have guaranteed germination rate! They also need the frost to enable them to become sweet.

Like the carrot, parsnips ideally need a sandy stone free soil to ensure long straight roots, and don't like freshly manured soil.

One weeknest is the 'Carrot Root Fly' which is without doubt the biggest problem for carrot growers.

Sowing & Thinning

Sow directly in the ground very thinly, any plants that have to be moved will be wasted as they rarely take after being moved.

Maintenance

Control weeds with the occasional gentle hoeing or even better weeding by hand so as not to damage the roots.
You may consider covering with a very fine netting to prevent the 'Carrot Fly' from attacking the roots.
Water as if the ground is dry to prevent the soil from hardening around the developing roots.

Harvesting

The roots are ready for harvesting when when the foliage begins to die down. Use a fork slightly away from the root to prevent damaging them while lifting.

Storing

You can also lift them in November and store in a 'Clamp' in the same way as you would carrots. parsnipscan be lifted and stored in whats known as a 'Clamp'. Sort the parsnips removing any with damage or signs of 'Carrot Root Fly'. Cut off the foliage leaving a very small amount at the top. and remove the surface soil. Get a large box and line with sand, lay the parsnips in layers and cover. keep in a cool dry place, and regularily check for any damaged roots that could cause them all to spoil.

Potatoes

A staple in most diets with such a myriad of uses, and also very easy to grow.  But they don't just have to be grown in the ground! You can grow potatoes in big pots or even an empty dust bin! There are thousands of varieties and come in many colours including a Dark purple thats almost black .

Potatoes can be grown in just about any soil, ideally in a sunny position. Ideally the ground should be dug and manured the autumn. Potatoes suffer from 'Wire Worm' attacks so rotation is of particular benefit.

Sowing

Depending on what you read or who you speak to often the advice is to 'Chit' the potatoes first, particularily with 'First Earlies'. When you buy your potato 'Tubers', place them individually in a tray (egg boxes work well) in a light position, with the eyes of the potatoes pointing upwards. Leave for around 6 weeks, until you have shoots approx 2-3 cm long. Then plant them as usual.
To increase the number of potatoes the plants produce it is general practice to plant them in  troughs. Dig a long trough approx 15 cm deep and pile the soil on either side. Then space the potatoes along the bottom, and cover with soil, called 'Earthing Up'. As the plant grow cover the foliage with the soil from the sides. Continue to do this until you have created mounds where the troughs once were.

Maintenance

Control weeds with the occasional gentle hoeing o
Water regularily to prevent the soil from hardening and to help the new 'Tubers' grow.

** WARNING** Potatoes produce a type of fruit above the ground that looks very much like a green Tomato. These are poisenous so be cautious especially if there are children around.
 

Harvesting

Once the flowers have gone and the foliage has started to die the 'Tubers' should be ready to dig up. Ideally use a fork and start a short distance away from the centre of the plant. The Tubers should come to the top quite easily. Try to pick them all out even the very small ones that aren't big enough to eat as any that are left in the ground will come up next year whether you like it or not!!

Storing

Store in a cool dark place. Or they can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Beetroot

A great vegetable, that can be picked and eaten all year round.

Much like the carrot, the Beetroot doesn't like freshly manured soils. Ideally the soil should be light and in a sunny position.

Sowing

Maintenance

Control weeds with the occasional gentle hoeing o
Water regularily to prevent the soil from hardening and to help the new 'Tubers' grow.

** WARNING** Potatoes produce a type of fruit above the ground that looks very much like a green Tomato. These are poisenous so be cautious especially if there are children around.
 

Harvesting

Once the flowers have gone and the foliage has started to die the 'Tubers' should be ready to dig up. Ideally use a fork and start a short distance away from the centre of the plant. The Tubers should come to the top quite easily. Try to pick them all out even the very small ones that aren't big enough to eat as any that are left in the ground will come up next year whether you like it or not!!

Storing

Store in a cool dark place. Or they can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.