[acwid]

Hello folks can any one advise me on how to store beetroot for the winter many thanks

[monkeywobbler]

Hello!

I've just pickled some of my beetroot - boiled until just soft, put into sterilised jars and pour the vinegar of your choice over it, seal, and store!
I purchased John and Val's book on chutneys ect - very good. Also there are plenty of recipes online if you don't want to splash out on a book. What about a beetroot chutney?
I'm sure someone else will be along to help out shortly - or not, I seem to kill threads dead when I post in them, so sorry if I've murdered this one!!

Monkey

[acwid]

many thanks monkey, a friend of mine froze some and said they went to mush and lost their flavour

[acwid]

well monkey you were right about killing my thread at least it was quick and it did not suffer ha ha

[Val H]

I've found that with little beets, cook and peal and then freeze. Never had a problem with them going to mush or losing their flavour.

[Trillium]

Aidy kindly sent me this info and I hope he doesn't mind if I share with the forum.

I put a layer of compost, when I say compost I bought a bag of compost from a company called JA Bowers, I have metioned it in a thread as it killed all my seedlings. I dont like throwing stuff away and I had a row of Chioggia beetroots I wanted to store so, layer the bottom, put a few beets on top then another layer and then beets etc etc, keep it cool and dark and they have stored really well, I check every so often as the odd one has gone off but 90% are ok.

[DD.]

Don't bother storing mine.

They seem to be happy enough sitting on the plot during winter.

Don't believe in making work. 

[azubah]

Don't bother storing mine.

They seem to be happy enough sitting on the plot during winter.

Don't believe in making work. 

I agree that this may be the best method, but on our site the squirrels would steal the lot and leave just the leaves neatly chewed off behind.

We have found that Trillium's method of packing them in layers of compost works well.

[Plottered]

I cant even get mine to grow so ive no worries storing them as they come in jars ready pickled 

[acwid]

Hi folks if I leave them in the ground when do they start to go woody?

[Trillium]

Soon as they start to sprout in spring they're into seeding mode, and woody.

I have to lift my beets as our winters freeze the ground solid under a lot of snow, so I don't have much choice.

Plottered, next year try making a shallow furrow right in the garden, plant the seed direct versus started inside, space the corky bits about 2" apart, cover with a bit of soil, and water regularly until you see them come up. They really do hate fiddling with and they detest transplanting so this should work for you.  As they start to size up, you can thin the largest which would be a useful size and let the rest fatten up.