"Growing Beetroot"
Beetroot produces 'multiple seeds' and should be sown thinly to avoid too much thinning out of the seedlings later. Sow seeds in shallow drills allowing a couple of inches between each one. Water well. Make sure the ground is well-drained. Beetroot won't survive in waterlogged soil. Keep the soil damp but not over-watered until the seedlings start to appear.
  Growing beetroot - caring for your crops:
When the seedlings are large enough to handle, remove weaker ones leaving one plant every 4-6 inches. Different varieties will require different spacing so check on the manufacturer's growing recommendations on your seed packet before you do this. The thinnings can be added to a salad bowl, but they won't transplant well. Most root vegetables will 'fork' if transplanted. Once you have thinned the plants, water and keep weed-free. During the summer, don't let the soil get too dry or the roots won't develop.
Pull beetroot and use as you need them. If you have plenty, treat yourself to a few smaller roots as the younger the plant, the sweeter it tends to be. Pull all beetroots at the end of the summer or in the autumn. Don't leave them in the ground until winter unless you are growing a particularly hardy variety or your climate is very mild. Beetroots can be stored for a few weeks in a dark dry place until ready to use. Use them before the skins start to wrinkle. When cooking beetroot, twist the tops off rather than cutting, to prevent 'bleeding'. And if your hands beome very stained, try rubbing with the inside of a raw potato to remove purple dye from your skin. Growing beetroots for soup during the winter months is a nutritious and simple way of keeping the family well and cold-free! There are lots of garden soup recipes on this page... ... Garden Soup Recipes
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Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Back To Garden Vegetables Back To Flower and Garden Tips Homepage Click here to subscribe to "Creative Gardening" - Your FREE monthly ezine! http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/growingbeetroot.html |