Do you need to learn more about growing root crops in order to increase your farms profitability or because you want to get started in a new market?  We can help with this 100 hour self paced course.  This Agronomy Root Vegetables online course will help you discover different varieties of root vegetables, learn best growing practices and understand different harvesting techniques relevant to root crops.

• online course
• self paced – study from home
• supportive friendly tutors
• affordable price – payment plans available

Why grow root crops?  Because root crops are one of the largest food staples market in the world.  Root crops provide the majority of the world’s carbohydrates (potatoes etc) and in some cases are a primary source of proteins (yams and cassavas).

Detailed Course Outline

There are 10 Lessons in this course:

1. Scope and Nature of Root Cropping and the Botany of Roots

• • What are Root Vegetables?
  • Human Nutrition and Root Vegetables
  • Botany of Roots

2. Cultural Practices A: Soil Management, Crop Scheduling and Soil Water

• • General Guide to Growing Root Vegetables
  • Improving Soils
  • Sampling Soils
  • Cover Crops
  • Cultivation Techniques
  • Soil Fertility and Growth
  • Plant Nutrition
  • Choosing the Right Fertilizer
  • Diagnosis of Nutritional Problems
  • Should you have your Soil Laboratory Tested?
  • A Look at Organic Fertilizers
  • Compost
  • Growing Root Crops from Seeds
  • Crop Scheduling
  • Planting Vegetables
  • Soil and Water
  • Types of Soil Moisture

3. Cultural Practices B: Weed control, Pest Management

• • Weeds and Weed Management (Root Crops)
  • Methods of Weed Control
  • Safety Procedures When Using Agricultural Chemicals
  • Law in Relation to Chemical Use
  • Pest and Diseases Management (Root Crops)
  • Entomology
  • Toxicity
  • IPM
  • Pests and Diseases Diseases
  • Plant Viruses
  • Environmental Problems

4. Potatoes

• • Growing Conditions
  • Nutrient Requirements
  • Planting
  • Care
  • Watering
  • How to Extend the Storage Life of Potatoes
  • Potato Cultivars

5. Carrots and their Relatives

• • Carrot
  • Parsnip
  • Bulb Fennel
  • Turnip Routed Chervil
  • Skirret
  • Celriac

6. Turnips and their Relatives

• • Turnip
  • Rutabaga (Swede)
  • Radish
  • Daikon
  • Kohlrabi

7. Beets

• • Growing Conditions
  • Planting/ Propagation
  • Nutrient Requirements
  • Harvest and Post-Harvest
  • Varieties
  • Uses

8. Taro, Yams and Sweet Potato

• • Sweet Potato
  • Yams
  • Chinese Yam
  • Taro

9. Other Root Crops

• • Salsify
  • Scorconera (Black Salsify)
  • Jerusalem Artichoke
  • Potato Bean
  • Arrowroot
  • Oca (New Zealand Yam)
  • Dandelion Water Chestnuts
  • Yacon or Jicama
  • Root Chicory
  • Ullico
  • American Groundnut

10. Harvest and Post-Harvest Management

• • Harvesting Root Vegetables: Harvesting Hints, Curing, Post-Harvest Treatment of Vegetables
  • Cooling: Room Cooling with Forced Air, Water (Hydro) Cooling, Icing, Vacuum Cooling, Evaporative Cooling, Storage requirement of some root crops