by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: May 11, 2009   Last Updated: April 02, 2010

Root vegetables are those with the edible part of the plant growing underground. Essentially what's the difference between root crop vegetables and vegetables that grow their food above ground? The obvious answer must be seed formation, since all plant functioning is to produce seeds. Yet, thinking further, that does not apply to all vegetables since beets, carrots and radishes, to mention only a few, have as their edible portion of food an underground root while producing seeds above ground. Onions, too, grow seeds above ground while growing onions below ground. Most peculiar of all, both varieties of potatoes, sweet and white potatoes grow both food and seed underground. The seeds are not called seeds but are called eyes. Essentially there's no different in seed potatoes than the edible tuber. What else can be said about root crops that will differentiate them from the other vegetables? To understand that each edible root vegetable must be seen separately.

Potatoes (Solanium Tuberosum)

Potatoes can also be grown from seeds but the plants will not be true. It is a trial and error method and is one used by potato producers or by hobby gardeners who like to see if they can come up with new varieties of potatoes. Many of the members in the Solanium family members are poisonous. In fact all the potato plant is poisonous and the only edible part is the tuber. Even it is poisonous if it has become green. Yet, the potato is not a true root crop but is of a group that is essentially enlarged stems or rhyzomes. The potato eyes are leaf buds. True root crop vegetables are turnips, beets, rutabagas and parsnips.

Turnips (Brassica rapa)

Turnips are a fast growing vegetable and both the tops and the roots are edible. They are more often planted in the fall and this is an excellent way to use soil that has grown beans and other vegetables that have already been harvested. Turnips are a good keeper and can be stored for months in a cool place. The tops can be blanched and canned for winter use likewise. Although growing large, they lose flavor and become tough and woody if left un-harvested. Turnips are related to the other 'green crops' such as kale, mustard, spinach, but only the turnip and its close relatives the kohl-rabi and beets, its other relative, but less so, have edible roots.

Beets (Beta vulgaris)

Every gardener that knows their stuff grows beets. It is distinguished by its maroon color and its good taste. High in nutritive value and supplies a goodly portion

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