Selecting Root Crop Seeds

Food Gardening Guide → Other Root Crops / Getting Started

When you open a seed catalog or visit a garden center, you may be boggled at the sight of all the different varieties for some of the root crops, particularly carrots and beets. As long as your seeds come from a reputable seed company, choose according to your own soil conditions and tastes.

Choose Your Varieties

For instance, if you have heavy clay soil, stick with short, stocky carrots or parsnips rather than long, tapered ones. If you have a very short or very long growing season, pick varieties that mature earlier or later than others. To enjoy your harvest through the winter, choose types that are good winter keepers or those that can or freeze well. The descriptions on the seed packets or in catalogs will help you select varieties with the characteristics you're looking for. It's also a good idea to check with your local county extension agent or a gardening neighbor for advice as to seed varieties well adapted to your area.

You'll develop preferences once you've tasted the results of each crop, but you're sure to have some success with any variety. So be adventurous and experiment a bit.

Together with Victory Seed Company:

Victory Seed Company has all the seeds you want for your best garden.

For 25 years, the family-owned Victory Seed Company has provided the highest quality vegetable, herb and flower seeds to families across the country. We are passionate about providing you the best seeds available that give excellent germination, robust plants, and the harvest you want. With a catalog of over a thousand varieties, we have everything, and our prices are the kinds that we'd want to pay. We have hundreds of yesterday's heirloom vegetables, as well as today's award winning hybrid selections. Get to know us by visiting our website and browsing through our online vegetable seed catalog.