If you are a fan of sweet, earthy beetroot, it’s time to start growing your own. Beetroot is easy and quick to grow from the seed, and these colourful, cool-season veggies can withstand frost.
Here is everything you need to grow your beetroot:
Planting and growing beetroot
When planting and growing beetroot, choose a site that receives full sun, with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Beets thrive in the cool temperatures of spring and autumn, making them a great addition to any garden.
While beets can survive in partial shade, they require full direct sunlight during development. You can directly sow them in the garden or transport them from indoors to outdoors when they are still young. Since the have shallow roots that are easily disturbed, spreading them apart is the ideal choice.
For the best growing, water them immediately after planting. Organic compost can help with healthy growth. Beets need to maintain plenty of moisture to grow well. Consider covering them with row covers to prevent pests from attacking your growing crop.
Image credit: unsplash
Harvesting
Beets may seem challenging to harvest. Harvesting beets takes about 2 months after planting. If your soil is free of obstruction from rocks and weeds, you can expect a great harvest.
As the veggies mature you’ll see the shoulders(leaves) emerge from the soil. Beets can be harvested young or full-sized, depending on your preference.
A fully mature beet will be a golf ball-size or even larger. When harvesting, loosen the soil around the crop and gently pull it from the soil. Larger roots may be tough and woody.
How to store your beets
Beets store well in the refrigerator for about 14 days. For longer storage cut the tops off and store the green leaves separately. Beet greens usually last for about 3 to 4 days. You can also freeze or can your beets. Be careful of sprouting as this is a sign of poor storage and leads to decay.
ALSO SEE:
Feature image: Unsplash
A version of this article was first published in Garden&Home Magazine.
