Removing Root Vegetables Stored in the Ground
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Question
Dear Rabbi, I store our root vegetables in the ground, which keeps them from spoiling, and we love them fresh and crisp. I emphasize that I do not plant them for growing, and they do not have time to grow because I use them very quickly. The question is about radishes: can I leave them in the ground if I bought them on Thursday, or must I remove them before Shabbat if I want to use them on Shabbat?
Answer
Hello Rabbi,
If the radish has been in the ground for 3 days, it is considered to have taken root, and removing it constitutes uprooting.
If the radish has been in the ground for less than 3 days and there was no intention to plant it, only to store it, there is no prohibition of uprooting. However, it is forbidden to move the soil to remove it. Indeed, if one does not move the soil directly with their hands but inserts a long skewer into the radish and pulls it out of the ground, and the surrounding soil falls, it is permitted.
Similarly, if a bit of the radish protrudes and one pulls the radish and the soil falls, it is permitted.