Root vegetables: carrots, beets, and radishes

Root vegetables are well-suited to raised beds because the loose, rock-free soil allows straight, unobstructed root development, something hard to achieve in compacted or rocky native ground. Carrots need 10-12 inches of loose soil depth minimum (deeper for long varieties like Imperator). Nantes and Chantenay types (6-7 inches) are more forgiving for shallower beds. Direct sow carrot seeds 1/4 inch deep; they are slow to germinate (10-21 days), so be patient and keep soil moist. Thin to 2-3 inches apart. Beets are faster (50-60 days) and extremely easy. Direct sow 1/2 inch deep, 3-4 inches apart. Each beet 'seed' is actually a cluster that produces multiple seedlings; thin to one per cluster. Both the root and greens are edible. Detroit Dark Red and Chioggia (candy-striped interior) are excellent beginner varieties. All root vegetables prefer cool weather and can be planted in early spring and again in late summer for fall harvest. Succession plant beets and radishes every 2-3 weeks. Interplant onions near carrots to deter carrot fly. Root vegetables store well in the ground in fall, extending your harvest window; just mulch heavily before hard frost.