Is the tree sending up new trees from the roots? The broken roots probably won't be a problem, but some trees are much more invasive than others. If there is a lot of roots, the tree will probably always be a problem sending new roots into the watered vegetable garden. You could try to dig up the roots every year, but it could be a constant battle.

Thanks, Robert. I fully expect the root system to be a continued problem for which I will need to find a long-term solution. In the meantime, I’d still like use the dirt since I actually paid quite a bit of $, time and back pain for it to fill my beds! But I just do t know if it’s risky. The roots are from a Black Locust.

It should be noted that, while there doesn't seem to be a lot of consensus about it, Black Locust has been alleged to be allelopathic. I have to assume the effects aren't that serious.

https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/robpse/all.html#72

https://www.ocregister.com/2013/08/24/are-your-trees-allelopathic/

Of course, Black Walnut certainly is.

I agree with Tox that the tree roots shouldn't sprout. I do get lots of oak and a few hickory saplings sprouting in my beds but those are due to squirrels burying nuts.

I've had to relocate some raised beds in the past due to tree roots sucking the life out of the plants in them. I even had to relocate a 3'x3' horseradish bed for this reason. It was originally about 50 feet from the nearest tree and did fine for several years but eventually the tree roots found it. Don't plant any perennials in a bed that could be threatened by tree roots. I have an asparagus bed that I'm pretty sure has tree roots growing into it and the crowns have slowly become less productive in the last few years. The frame is also pretty rotten so I'm going to rip it out this winter.

I too feel your pain, it will probably only get worse.

There are certain trees that have more shallow root systems. Silver Maple is awful. I had two of them, took one out last fall as it was in decline and too close to the house anyway. The other is going to lose one of its main trunks this fall or next spring, and it will eventually go altogether. I'm planting an oak right in between these two silver maples to replace them. It will be farther from the gardens and shouldn't be a root problem for many years, if ever.

Every time I dig in the ground, I hit tree roots. And I don't think any tree would sprout from fibrous roots. Only thick roots. I try to remove as many as I can and continue on as if they weren't there. Haven't noticed much of an an issue.