hopi blue roots

this hopi blue's season was ended by some marauding critter...it wasn't even going to do as an autumn decoration snapped off like that...so i pulled it up and stretched it back out to its seven foot length and took a look at the roots that fed it and held it up...there's little doubt in my mind that i left at least another third of the root system in the ground...lots of these were snapped off clean when i yanked it out...but it still gives you an idea of how shallow an annual's root system is compared to its height...unlike a perennial which has a deep and extensive root system ( we will explore that more when i harvest the chinese yams )...the bottom two photos are an attempt to illustrate how deeply the support roots penetrate...they don't just sit on the surface of the soil...these penetrated at least eight inches into the ground anchoring, supporting, and. probably, feeding the plant...i am unhappy about the predation but pleased to have save four large ears of mature seed corn from plants in both gardens to use to try to propagate another generation form saved seed...there will be more maize next may.