Root Crops
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Potatoes
The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a herbaceous annual that grows up to 100 cm tall and produces a tuber – also called potato – so rich in starch that it ranks as the world’s fourth most important food crop, after maize, wheat and rice. As the potato plant grows, its compound leaves manufacture starch that is transferred to the ends of its underground stems (or stolons). The stems thicken to form a few or as many as 20 tubers close to the soil surface.
Turnips
The turnip is a biennial plant of the Brassicas group used for both the tops and for the roots.
Publications
Tropical Vegetable Diseases: I
Shouan Zhang, Geoffrey Meru, Ken Pernezny, and Mary Lamberts
This fact sheet describes the symptoms of several diseases commonly observed on Florida tropical vegetables and provides recommendations for control.
Healthy Harvest: Florida Tubers and Root Vegetables
Catherine Campbell, Julia Graddy, Jeanette Andrade, andWendy Wilber
This publication from the Healthy Harvest series is intended for individuals who are interested in learning more about tubers and root vegetables that are grown in Florida, and ways to store, prepare, and cook these crops in healthy meals. Written by Catherine Campbell, Julia Graddy, Jeanette Andrade, and Wendy Wilber, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, July 2025.
Yacon, a Potential Tuberous Crop for Florida
Sergio Marcelo Gutierrez Laredo, Jianjun Chen, and Guodong Liu
The purpose of this article is to introduce yacon as a potential crop to Florida growers and the Extension community by providing information on its propagation, production, and utilization as well as nutritional value. It is anticipated that the availability of such information will support the establishment of yacon as a higher-value crop and promote yacon production and utilization in Florida. Written by Sergio Marcelo Gutierrez Laredo, Jianjun Chen, and Guodong Liu, and published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department; 5 pp.
Chapter 15. Root Crop Production
Julien M. Beuzelin, Peter J. Dittmar, Johan Desaeger, Lincoln Zotarelli, Shouan Zhang, Qingren Wang, Craig Frey, andAnna Mészáros
Chapter 15 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida