About this guild
Root crops span fine-seeded carrots and daikon through heavy feeders like kūmara, taro, and yacon. Interplant shallow-rooted lettuce or use onion companions for pest confusion. Jerusalem artichoke and burdock are perennial roots — give them a permanent corner.
NZ note
Kūmara tradition pairs with legume nitrogen; oca and yacon thrive in frost-free NZ pockets.
Plants in Root Guild
17 species — tap for individual companion guides and spacing.
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Beet
3-4" spacing
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Burdock
12-18" spacing
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Carrot
2-3" spacing
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Celeriac
6-8" spacing
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Daikon Radish
4-6" spacing
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Ginger
8-10" spacing
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Kūmara / Sweet Potato
12-18" spacing
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Oca (Andean Yam)
12-18" spacing
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Parsnip
3-4" spacing
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Radish
2-3" spacing
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Salsify
4-6" spacing
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Scorzonera
4-6" spacing
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Swede (Rutabaga)
6-8" spacing
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Taro
18-24" spacing
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Turmeric
8-12" spacing
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Turnip
4-6" spacing
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Yacon
24-36" spacing
Planting tips
- Fine seedbed for carrots and daikon; avoid fresh manure (forking roots).
- Kūmara slips and oca tubers need warm soil — North Island timing differs from South.
- Ginger, turmeric, and taro in frost-free tubs or deep mulch in warm microclimates.
- Swede and celeriac suit cool-season beds; yacon and sunchoke harvest after frost.
Use the compatibility matrix
Filter to Root Guild to see green (beneficial), red (incompatible), and grey (neutral) for every pair. Desktop: hover cells. Mobile: tap for details and sources.
- Filter — guild pre-selected in the matrix URL
- Compare — row × column shows each relationship
- Plan — share the URL or download the PDF guide