Containers - Carrot, Beet & Radish

Planting: Carrots (Daucus carota) are cool-season plants that grow best at average temperatures between 60 and 65 F. The optimum soil temperature for seed germination is 55 to 75 F. Seeds will not germinate above 95 F. It is important to plant carrots early enough in the spring to ensure that the crop is harvested before early summer. Carrots near maturity that are allowed to remain in the garden under high temperature conditions tend to develop a strong flavor and roots that are coarse and fibrous.

Plant carrots in rows 12 to 18 inches apart with a quarter-inch between the seeds. Carrot seeds are very small, and it is difficult to obtain a stand if the soil is crusty. Try mixing carrot seed with dry sand to get even distribution. Then, instead of covering with soil, cover the seed ¹/8-inch deep with sawdust, vermiculite or manufactured potting soil. Water the row soon after planting is complete. This method will allow the seeds to stay wet and prevent crusting. Thin the carrots to 2 inches between plants when they are 1 to 2 inches tall.

Recommended Cultivars:

• Apache

• Camden

• Chantenay

• Danvers 126

• Orlando Gold.

Sidedress the plants when they are 4 inches tall. Sidedress with ammonium nitrate at 1 pound per 100 feet of row or calcium nitrate at 2 pounds per 100 feet. More frequent sidedressing may be required if the garden is sandy or if leaching rains occur.

Watering: Water the garden to provide a uniform moisture supply to the crop. The garden should be watered in the morning so that the foliage is dry before dark. Water the garden sufficiently to moisten the soil to a depth of 6 inches. The critical periods for water are during stand establishment and root development. If a uniform supply is not provided for carrots’ growth, cracks, strong flavor and coarseness in the roots may develop.

Cultural Practices: Weed control is important, especially during the early stages of development, because carrots are poor competitors with weeds. Shallow cultivation and organic mulches are the best methods for weed control in the home garden. Keep the cultivation shallow to avoid root injury.

Harvest and Storage: Harvest carrots about 65 to 75 days after planting. Carrots should be harvested when they reach the desired size. Store them at 33 F and high humidity to prevent wilting. Bunched carrots (plants with tops on) can be stored for about 10 to 14 days. Carrots with tops removed can be stored for four to six months under optimum conditions.

A fungal disease, called Alternaria blight, causes spots on the leaves. Root-knot nematodes can also be a problem.

Planting: Beets (Beta vulgaris) are cool-season plants that grow best at temperatures between 60 and 65 F. The optimum soil temperature for seed germination is 55 to 75 F.

When the seedlings are 1 to 2 inches tall, thin them to 2 to 3 inches between plants.

Recommended Cultivars

• Detroit Dark Red

• Red Ace

• Red Cloud

Harvest and Storage: Harvest beets about 50 to 70 days after planting. Beets should be harvested at 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. Beets allowed to get larger than 2 inches in diameter may be woody. Store them at 40 F and high humidity to prevent wilting.

Cercospora leaf spot is the most common disease that occurs on beets. Circular spots with reddish brown or purplish margins are the first signs. Beets are also very susceptible to damping-off and root-knot nematodes. Beets will develop internal black spot if soil boron is not adequate.

Planting: Radishes (Raphanus sativus) are fairly easy to grow. They mature anywhere from 21 to 30 days from seeding, depending on soil and air temperatures during their growing time. For radishes, the warmer it is, the faster they mature. Radishes prefer cool and moist conditions for best growth. The optimum temperature is 50 to 65 F. Optimum soil temperature for seed germination is 45 to 85 F. Radish seed will not germinate when the soil temperature is above 95 F. Spring-planted radishes should be harvested early. The flavor of the radish bulb is also dependent on temperature. As a general rule, the cooler the temperature, the milder the radish. High summer temperatures cause radishes to become pithy and develop a strong flavor. Sandy to sandy loam soils are best for radishes.

Cultivars:

• Red: Scarlet Globe, Cherry Belle and Cherriette.

• White: April Cross and Summer Cross

• French Breakfast Type: ‘Red Flame’

Cultural Practices: Cultural practices for growing radish are the same as for growing beets and carrots. Moisture stress during development of the radish will cause it to have a strong flavor and be woody or pithy. Radishes planted in late spring will bolt (form a flower stalk) as the temperatures get warm in late spring and early summer. Radishes that have bolted have a strong flavor and are pithy.

Harvest and Storage: Radishes will be ready to harvest in about 3 to 4 weeks after planting. These plants develop very rapidly; therefore, check the plantings frequently to prevent them from becoming too large to use. The round red radish should be harvested before it is an inch in diameter. Larger radishes will usually have a strong flavor and will be pithy. White radishes should be harvested before they are about ¾ inch in diameter. Radishes can be stored in the refrigerator for about two weeks.

Diseases are usually not a problem when radishes are grown in the home garden. Seed should be obtained from a reputable source.