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ROOT CROPS
ASPARAGUS
- Needs at least 5 hours of sun.
- Plant in a trench 18" deep, place crowns 12-18" apart. Leave 3-5 ft. between rows.
- Cover crowns with 2" of soil. Fill in as shoots grow, but never cover tips.
- After first year, fertilize with 6-24-24 or similar when growth starts in spring & again in July.
- Don't harvest first year.
- Harvest small amount second year.
- Big harvests begin the third year.
- Harvest from May to June.
- 25-ft. row yields 7-12 lbs.
- Leave ferns until they brown.
GARLIC, HARD-NECKED (Fall Planting)
- ½ lb cloves yields 5 lbs of garlic
- Plant in well-drained sandy loam soil, rich in organic matter
- Plant in mid-October
- Break apart cloves and plant them 1-2” deep, 4-6” apart, pointed end up
- Mulch before soil freezes to protect the garlic bulbs over the winter
- In spring, water only if the soil dries out completely
- Remove flowers to increase bulb size
- Begin harvesting bulbs when about ¾ of the tops are yellow.
- If storing: cure bulbs on a screen in the sun for up to 2 weeks. Will keep for 5-8 months.
GARLIC, SOFT-NECKED (Spring Planting)
- ½ lb cloves yields 5 lbs of garlic
- Plant in well-drained sandy loam soil, rich in organic matter
- Plant in mid- to late-April
- Break apart cloves and plant them 1-2” deep, 4-6” apart, pointed end up
- Keep soil consistently moist
- Remove flowers to increase bulb size
- Begin harvesting bulbs when about ¾ of the tops are yellow.
- If storing: cure bulbs on a screen in the sun for up to 2 weeks. Will keep for 5-8 months.
HORSERADISH
- Horseradish is a prolific perennial and can be invasive if it’s happy so plant it accordingly.
- Horseradish likes full sun, compost rich soil and lots of water.
- Make furrows 4-5” deep and 12” wide with rows spaced 30” apart.
- Plant root pieces horizontally, 24” apart.
- When leaves grow to 8-10” tall it’s time to “lift” the roots. Starting at the top, gently remove soil from along the root, leaving the last 1-2” undisturbed. Carefully raise the top end up a few inches from the soil, leaving the feeder roots emerging from the bottom end undisturbed. From the “lifted” part of the root trim all emerging leaves except the most vigorous ones at the top and all side feeder roots. Re-bury the root.
- 6 weeks later “lift” the roots again.
- Keep rows weeded and well watered.
- Harvest after tops have been frosted. Roots can be overwintered in the ground and dug up as needed.
- Washed horseradish roots will store for many weeks in the refrigerator or can be grated and frozen for up to 6 months.
ONION SETS
- Plant from April until June 1. Earliest plantings give larger onions.
- Plant 1-2” deep, 1-3” apart
- Full sun
- Constant moisture
- Harvest every other one as green onions – let the rest grow large
If storing:
- After tops fall over, leave in ground for 1-2 weeks
- Dig up and leave 1-2” of neck on the bulb
- Let dry outside 3-7 days
YELLOW SPANISH SWEET ONIONS (“Hamburger Onions”)
- Onion plants are quite hardy and can withstand frost. Thay can be planted 4-6 weeks before the last frost date.
- Don’t worry if the plants seem dry. Do not wet them or stick them in water! Store them in a cool, dark place until ready to plant.
- Onions prefer a sandy loam, rich in organic matter and well-drained.
- Place root side down, 4-6” apart in rows spaced 12-18” apart.
- Side dress with an all-purpose fertilizer in spring. Once bulbs form, discontinue fertilizing.
- Keep well weeded and evenly moist.
- When bulbing begins any mulch or soil covering should be pulled back allowing the bulbs to form on the surface of the soil and to dry down. To form the tough, protective, outer skins the plant must mature in dry soil.
- The tops make tasty scallions but whatever plant you havest as a scallion won’t produce a bulb.
- Gently harvest bulbs with a spading fork when most of the tops have browned and fallen over. Dry in the sun for a day or two. Air dry until the tops have completely shriveled. Cut off tops and store in a cool, dry place with good air circulation all around.
POTATOES
- 5 lbs plants a 50-ft row. 10 lbs plants a 100-ft row.
- Plant in early spring when soil temperature is above 45°F.
- Cut potatoes into pieces with at least one or two eyes per piece. Don’t cut them too small. Allow the pieces to “heal” in a cool area for a couple days before planting.
- Prior to planting, roto-till manure and compost into the seedbed.
- Plant 4" deep, spaced 10" to 12" apart in the row, with rows 24" to 36" apart.
- Side dress with fertilizer one week after plants emerge and at 60 days.
- On average, potatoes need about 1" of water per week.
- Mulch to preserve and provide even soil moisture.
- When plants are 8" to 12" tall, mound soil to a height of 2" to 3" up around plant and out to 12" to 15" from base of plant to prevent sunscald (this is called “hilling”).
- Hill another 1"-2" every 2 to 3 weeks. Never let the young tubers push out of the hill and get exposed to light.
- Harvest main crop in the fall when the vines die back, before a severe frost.
RHUBARB
- Rhubarb is a perennial. Cultivate the soil 12 to 18 inches deep. Set the crowns of the plant only about 2 inches below the surface, and about 3 feet apart. Do not allow the crowns to dry out before planting. Deer may bother them, but they aren't a favorite food.
SHALLOTS
- Shallots are easier to grow than normal onions and are excellent keepers.
- Shallots prefer a light loam soil rich in organic matter and well-drained.
- 1lb of shallots will plant a 20’ row.
- Place root side down, 1” deep and 4-6” apart in rows spaced 18” apart.
- Keep well-weeded.
- Side-dress with an all-purpose fertilizer in spring.
- When bulbing begins any mulch or soil covering should be pulled back allowing the bulbs to form on the surface of the soil and to dry down. To form the tough, protective, outer skins the plant must mature in dry soil.
- The tops make tasty scallions but whatever plant you havest as a scallion won’t produce a bulb.
- Harvest bulbs when most of the tops have browned and fallen over. Air dry with the tops attached for 2-3 weeks. Cut off tops and store in a cool, dry place.
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