Tubers Tubers are part of the plant stem that grows underground and swells to store food. New plants use the stored food until they can make their own. Potatoes are the best known tuber (Figure 15.3). Look for tubers that are dry, firm, and free of bruises and decay. Shriveled or sprouted tubers are old. Bulb Vegetables Bulbs are short, rounded buds that grow underground and store food for the plant. Bulb vegetables have a very short stem covered with overlapping layers. Onions and fennel are examples of bulb vegetables (Figure 15.4). The best bulbs are firm. Bulbs with a papery skin, like onions and garlic, should feel dry. If bulb vegetables are soft, it means the plant used the stored food before you did. Tubers Tubers Tubers grow below the soil. Jerusalem Artichokes Potatoes Top to bottom: Feng Yu/Shutterstock.com Louella938/Shutterstock.com Tubers vector: Kazakova Maryia/Shutterstock.com Figure 15.3 Most of the tubers sold in the United States are brown or red potatoes. Have you ever eaten a blue potato or a Jerusalem artichoke? Bulb Vegetables Bulb Vegetables Bulb vegetables grow below the soil. Garlic Fennel Leeks Onion Shallot Spring Onion Left to right, top to bottom: Artem Kutsenko/Shutterstock.com Nattika/Shutterstock.com Lepas/Shutterstock.com Lubava/Shutterstock.com andersphoto/Shutterstock.com SUPIDA KHEMAWAN/Shutterstock.com Onion vector: Kazakova Maryia/Shutterstock.com Figure 15.4 Bulbs usually grow just below the soil surface. Which bulb vegetables have you tried? 355 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 15 Versatile Vegetables