Many assume summer gardening is over as the days shorten and the nights cool. More experienced gardeners know better. Every cool morning countless delicious and sweet vegetables continue to grow, silently and slowly transforming underground.
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Check PriceRoot vegetables survive cold weather by making it an ally. To keep from freezing, they change their stored starches into natural sugars, which are like candy!
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The Science Behind the Sweetness of Weather
What makes plant biology fascinating is what happens when soil temperatures decrease. Root vegetables begin to cease growth and begin an energy storing process in which sugar is produced. The sugar acts as an antifreeze and cell protector. This is the reason summer root veggies are bitter while sweet are the fall harvested roots.
Most plants grow best during the day at average temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. However, for most plants to attain optimum sugar storage, average nightly temperatures need to be below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Changes in temperatures promote the greatest amounts of sugar conversion. The colder temperatures keep the plant alive and growing, but at a much lower rate.
13 Root Vegetables That Get Better With Cold Storage
1. Carrots. Among the many popular cold sweetened veggies, carrots are well known. When frost exposure happens During the harvest, carrots develop a more candy like sweetness. Since it is common knowledge, Carrots harvested in the fall contain 40% more natural sugars, than those harvested in the summer.
2. Parsnips
Be sure to wait until after the first frost to take parsnips out of the ground. The parsnips will taste much better after exposure to the cold than they do before. Before the frost, the roots are likely to taste of wood and bitterness, but after the frost hits, they develop an almost buttery and sweet flavor.
Brussels Sprouts Although these veggies aren't root veggies, they still show the same phenomena of cold-sweetening. With frost, some of the sulfur compounds present in the sprouts convert to natural sugars. These natural sugars are what give the sprouts their sweet nutty taste that's great for converting doubters into believers!
4. Turnips Light frosts will cause young, harvested turnips to lose their sharp taste and develop a mild, sweet flavor. Those turnips are excellent for roasting and eating raw in salads.
5. Rutabagas
Winter stews may benefit from the addition of these root vegetables. Rutabagas get sweeter and earthier the longer they are stored, and are exposed to cold weather.
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6. Radishes
Daikon and other varieties of winter radishes become less harsh and more sweet and crunchy when exposed to cold.
7. Beets. Beets are usually sweeter in the winter than in the summer because the cold temperatures cause the sugar in the beets to be more concentrated. Additionally, the greens of the beets become more tender and less bitter.
8. Sweet Potatoes
Normally, sweet potatoes are picked before the first hard frost, however, light cold conditions can actually make the potatoes sweeter because some of the starches convert to sugar.
Cooking with leeks when they are chilled makes the process easier because vegetables get sweeter and more tender when cold. This makes leeks perfect for use in soups or braises.
10. Celeriac \n \n The roots' knobby texture and cold weather cultivation produces a more pronounced celeriac flavor that makes the roots excellent for winter purees and gratins.
**11. Sunchokes**
Sunchokes or Jerusalem artichokes become sweeter and have a reduction in starch when frozen.
12. Winter Squash Instead of developing underground, winter squash develops above ground. However, winter squash varieties can develop notable levels of sweetness and flavor from exposure to colder temperatures prior to harvesting.
Horseradish roots collected in autumn have the best warmth and natural sweetness for fresh use.
When is the Best Time for Harvesting for the Most Sweetness?
Knowing when to harvest sweet root vegetables is critical. Generally, root vegetables require one to two light frost events to begin sugar production. However, you have to harvest before soil freezes, as frozen soil will lower the quality of the roots.
You can even measure soil temperature with just a thermometer. Soil temperatures that are optimal for harvesting are 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ways To Store Your Harvest To Last Longer
There are a few simple methods that allow for the storage of several cold sweetened roots over the winter. By applying protection mulch over the soil, winter harvesting of carrots, parsnips, and turnips is possible in many regions.
The roots can be harvested when the tops are removed and peak sweetness is developed. The roots can then be stored in cooler, humid conditions (like a root cellar or a fridge).
Steps in Planning for Fall Planting
To succeed, fall root veggies need to be planted at certain times. For best results, plant seeds 10-14 weeks before your first hard frost date so roots will be fully developed before the weather turns sweet.
Pick crop types that are specifically bred for fall and winter harvests. These types usually have better tolerance to cold and increased ability to accumulate sugars.
Fall root vegetable gardening transforms the traditional growing season from a summer-focused sprint into a year-round marathon of flavor. While others pack away their gardening tools, you’ll be harvesting the sweetest, most flavorful vegetables nature can produce, all thanks to the magic of cold weather chemistry.
