root veg and compost

I'm going to try growing some scorzonera and thought that since they are so long and difficult to harvest, growing some in bags would make it easier. Now I know that using manure on root veg will make them fork but would compost have the same effect? I intend to use mostly bought compost to fill the bags... but I may have to rethink.

 

Bought 'potting compost' should be just fine. Well rotted garden compost is ok too. The thing that can cause problems is compost that is over-rich due the addition of manure or additional fertiliser.

One other major cause of forking in root veg is a period or periods of drought during development.

 

A tip I picked up on a forum (might have been this one)is to sow scortzerona seed in tubes so they grow down the tube before growing into the ground/container. That way you are more likely to get straighter roots, and they do go down a long way when planted in the ground. It's the same idea as growing carrots for showing.