beetroot

[Nicos]

This year I want to try and store beetroot rather than put it in jars as I still have some left from last year.
Has anyone got any ideas how to do this? I understand they should be layered and not touching side to side or above and below, and either sharp sand or peat based potting compost can be used, and thry should be stored frost free.
What do other people do??

[sewer rat]

Nicos
Can't help - I eaten all mine already, except for a dozen or so jars of pickled baby beets from the thinnings - I love the stuff !
However, the method you describe is the one quoted in every text book I've ever seen, so must be right

[Snadger]

My Bothardy beet have grown huge and are still growing!
They are wonderfully healthy plants and apart from the few I have picked to use I haven't got the heart to uproot them. They are about the diameter of a CD. The tops are 15" high and extremely healthy looking.

What ya think...pull em or leave em? Decisions, decisions?

I don't think they will go to seed (bolthardy) but they may get coarse inside?

I can get my hands on some sand but it seems such a shame at the mo to pull em and store em in sand

[yoanbob]

get em while there good, you never know who below ground will eat them if you leave them too long.

[roitelet]

I stored Beetroot in sand last year and we were still eating them in March. Lots of sand so they dont touch, a wooden box and a frost free shed Ithink is the answer

[Snadger]

get em while there good, you never know who below ground will eat them if you leave them too long.

Do slugs like them?...red slugs eh?...make the little blighters easier to spot anyway Lol

[JazzDuke]

Smaller beets tend to be sweeter, cook quicker and are more versatile.

[Nicos]

So where do we find wooden boxes these days??
Do oranges still come in crates or am I giving my age away!!!

[sewer rat]

Nicos - you could try your local greengrocer - alternatively, look about for old fish-boxes in antique / junk/ reclamation / salvage shops and yards

[martini]

If you've got an old chest of drawers or something I suppose you could use the drawers. I'm just getting my seed list together and as I've never grown beetroots before (but love eating them - which ones do you recommend?

[Nicos]

I always grow cylindria as they are so easy to slice , and as they are long as opposed to round, tend not to crowd each other out when maturing. Nice flavour too.
Never had disease/pests with them either.
Not a beetroot guru so would be interested in other varieties and why choose them?!

[martini]

Thanks Nicos - I'll try them.

[Nicos]

Just make sure you don't let them grow too long that they won't fit into a pan if that's how you intend to cook them!!

[Earthbabe]

Has anybody grown any yellow beets or the very pretty ones featured in the mag last month (or was it the one before)? sorry losing track of time here.