I'm really frustrated because none of my root vegetables turned out this year. My carrots didn't produce any roots, and the same goes for my Chinese radishes and beets. I suspect there might be a specific fertilizer or type of food that could have helped them out. I live in zone 7 and I'm planning to try again in the fall, so I'm looking for advice on what to do differently next time. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
It sounds like the issue might be your soil. If it’s compacted, that could be a big problem for root veggies. I've had the same struggle with dense clay soil here in Denver, and it just doesn't work without some amending. If you haven't done that yet, I recommend giving it a shot!
Bonemeal worked wonders for my radishes and beets! For my carrots, I used loose soil in a raised bed, covered them with wet cardboard to keep moisture, and watered a couple of times a day. Once they started germinating, I uncovered them. Just started a new batch here in 7B Delaware!
That sounds like a great method! I heard covering them helps with germination.
I tried growing daikon radishes and carrots this year too, but it took ages for them to grow. I planted my carrots in really clay-like soil, and I didn’t thin them out, so they were super crowded. The daikons bolted once it hit 70 degrees, so I've decided to try again in winter instead!
Definitely worth a try! Aerating and adding organic matter can change everything.