beet, both table and types of sugar, Ripens from spring to summer. They produce long, green leaves with colorful stems. Leaves collect energy from the sun through photosynthesis and transmit that energy to their roots. This is what makes beets the vegetable we know and love.
You may wonder if your crop too small or large to harvest, And how to know when it’s ready. If these roots grow too long, they become woody and fibrous, and it is important to harvest them at the right time to avoid a lower than desired harvest. Know when to remove them from the soil and you will never have trouble growing beets again.
Whether you live in the southern regions or the colder northern regions, there are telltale signs Our vegetables yield when they are ready to be picked. Take a close look at your garden, your plants, and how they grow and you’ll know when to harvest beets at their peak flavor and texture!
Tasty beet seed mix
‘Gourmet Blend’ includes ‘Detroit Dark Red’ with deep red roots and delicious dark green tops, ‘Chioggia’ with bright pink and white inner rings and ‘Golden’ with bright yellow flesh.
Types of beets
Two types of beets are excellent in home gardens: table beets and sugar beets. table types Perfect to eat whole, ground fresh in salads and used in cooking recipes. types of sugar This is what farmers grow to transform into table sugar.
Both types work well in home gardens. Grow them in raised beds, containers or in the ground. they need pots at least eight inches deep To form bulbous and swollen roots. Sugar varieties are exceptionally sweet and mild, unlike their table beet relatives. You can try them at home to see if you like them or grow them to process them into sugar.
For unique beets with sweet white and red stripes, try ‘Chioggia.’ This is a delicious table beet with great flavor and delicious greens. If you want to try the red, gold, and striped types, there is a seed mix with all three. plant ‘delicious mix‘ Beet seeds, and you won’t have to decide on a variety!
harvest and storage
When they are ready to harvest, you can dig up the ripe beets with your hands or a fork. You want to lift them without damaging their juicy roots. lift and take out, Hold them by the base of their stems with your hands.
Process The potatoes look a little different with a fork. You want to tamp the soil enough so that it doesn’t make holes in the beets. Lift the fork and pulling up will release the beets from the ground. Take your beets and prepare them for processing!
You will need to cut the leaves at the roots, leaving about two inches of stem attached. They will send moisture and energy from their roots to the stored leaves, and become Wrinkled, soft and bland in flavor. Avoid this by removing the leaves and then placing them in a glass of water in the refrigerator.
Wash the roots so they are free of dirt, being careful not to break or damage their skin. Then let them dry. keep them in your refrigerator For a week or more. Beets last a long time in root cellars, even in dry, dark conditions.
5 signs that beets are ready to harvest
It will be clear when your crop will be ready to be harvested. his The roots swell, They produce dozens of leaves and propel themselves upward. Here are five signs that your beets are ready to harvest.
seedlings crowd each other
The first sugar beet harvest arrives sooner than you think! beet seeds cluster In groups. When you plant them, several plants grow in one place. You’ll want to thin out these extra shoots, letting one form a thick root.
Use harvested seedlings in salads, charcuterie boards, or cooked green vegetable dishes. In some, small beets may already be forming. Because they are so small, they are perfect for eating fresh and cooked in your favorite recipes. Its flavor is rich, juicy, and milder than completely blanched roots.
Today, some seed companies separate groups So that each seed stands on its own. You won’t have to thin out the seedlings from these mixtures because you can plant them at the proper distance when sowing the seeds.
there are many leaves
Beets use their bright green leaves to collect energy. May your roots flourish. Healthy plants have many leaves that stand upright in the summer sun. The outer leaves may fall off as the plant absorbs energy from them, although the new inner leaves will remain healthy and straight throughout the growing season.
Chinese varieties grow particularly large clumps, with some plants hidden beneath dozens of strappy leaves! Its leaves are green and wide with white or green stems. The leaves of both sugar beets and table beets are edible throughout the life of their crop.
Choose the outer leaves that are green and shapely, then use them like spinach or chard. Avoid harvesting more than a third of the beet greens at a time. Avoid impacting it. When you remove less than a third of their foliage, you allow them to develop thick roots without any problems.
the roots are swelling
Most beets are ready to harvest When they reach another three centimeters in diameter. Their texture, flavor, and storage capacity are better when they are this size. When the roots grow longer than three inches, they sometimes become woody, pithy, and difficult to eat.
Some varieties swell more than three inches and their roots tend to be of inferior quality. ‘Detroit Dark Red’ is an example that you can plant and let grow until it is huge! If the roots are low quality or soft, use them in canning or pickling recipes. cooking process Makes them soft for easy eating.
The smaller the beets, the more tender and tender they are, making them ideal for cooking or canning whole. Bigger roots are sweeter However, compared to smaller ones, they are more likely to become woody. Test your crop at different stages of maturity to see which one is your favorite.
come out of the ground
As the beets swell and become large and bulbous, they emerge from the ground. The upper part of its root will protrude and leaves will emerge from it. Don’t be alarmed if the beets come out of the ground, as they get closer to the ground. Perfect size for cutting.
Sometimes beets grow above ground if conditions are not desirable for optimal root development. Lack of nutrients and soil in extremely hot areas can cause this deformity. harvest roots of strange shapes and modify your garden With loose and friable soil for better results in the future.
If the beets have soil stuck to the top, you can separate some soil to see how thick they are. Use your hands to clean off some of the dirt and be careful not to damage the skin of your crop. put soil back into the beet If it’s not ready, check it again in a week. With constant observation, you will be able to capture each ripe beet at its peak of ripeness.
Strong frosts are approaching
Below freezing temperatures can help or hinder your crops from flowering. Some mild colds are fine, because beets help. sweeten its flavor In response to the cold. As long as the cold lasts a few hours and the temperature remains between 28-32°F (-2-0°C)Your beets will remain hardy even during the cold of winter.
If the local weather forecast calls for some kind of frost, then it’s a good time to start thinking about harvesting your beets. light and hard frost Destroy the leafy greens, turning them into a mushy brown mass. Harvest vegetables before cold temperatures hit so you can use them in cooking while they are fresh.
Hard frosts below 28°F (-2°C) Put both the beet and its leaves at risk. Harvest all potential roots before these seasonal events arrive to keep your crops healthy, sweet-tasting, and long-lasting. Areas with mild winters and no frost are the exceptions; If there is no frost they will continue to grow. If you live in a frost-free area, use the root size of mature beets as the main indicator that they are ready to harvest.
Frequently asked questions
take beet in the middle 50 to 60 days From seed to medium maturity. Some varieties, such as ‘Dark Red Detroit’ It takes more than 60 days to mature. It is best to harvest beet roots about 60 days after planting, when they are one to three inches in diameter.
Cut the leaves like you cut spinach! Only cut the outer leaves Which are still green and attractive. leave two thirds of the leaves Just so your plant has enough energy to form a bulbous root.
Harvesting beet seeds is a challenge! Let your plants live more than a year. they will flourish within themselves second year And produce seeds. collect the seeds when they are Brown, dry and hard. They will keep in a cool, dark place for a year or more.
