[chickpeacurry]

I have a very good crop of beetroot this year. I plan to pickle some and also try and store some . .  I would like to know are they hardy to be left in the ground or should I lift them before the first frost. Thanks

[sonnycbr]

I haven't tried it, but a mate of mine stores it in boxes of dry sand. Whatever you decide, Id lift it before the first frosts.

[GrannieAnnie]

When I've left mine in the ground too long, they either go woody, get eaten by slugs.  I also tried storing in dry sand once and they shrivelled up.  I think I read on here the other week that damp sand is better?

I don't like beetroot, I grow it for Brian and after 27 yeas he decded to tell me last year that he doesn't like it pickled only boiled, which can be a pain as it doesn't keep for very long, so I put some in a plastic bag with a piece of kitchen towel in it.  over a week later they are still lovely and firm, but I started making it into beetroot chuteny, and its lovely!  even I can eat it! 

[Salmo]

Beetroot will stand a fair amount of frost but hard frosts get into the crown and then they rot. Covered with fleece or straw they will be protected. Slugs are not usually the problem but I do find that voles like to eat them, often hollowing them out to leave just the skin.

They will keep in sand or peat.

 You could make a traditional pie. Make a slight hollow in the ground. Line with straw. Make a pile of beet. Cover with straw and then a layer of earth. Leave a small hole at the top to let it breath.

[GrannieAnnie]

Well, something ate a lot of mine and we don't get many voles around our area, perhaps it was rats or mice.  It was a rat tht nicked a few as we found one jammed halfway down a rat hole! 

[Mum2mj]

When I've left mine in the ground too long, they either go woody, get eaten by slugs.  I also tried storing in dry sand once and they shrivelled up.  I think I read on here the other week that damp sand is better?

I don't like beetroot, I grow it for Brian and after 27 yeas he decded to tell me last year that he doesn't like it pickled only boiled, which can be a pain as it doesn't keep for very long, so I put some in a plastic bag with a piece of kitchen towel in it.  over a week later they are still lovely and firm, but I started making it into beetroot chuteny, and its lovely!  even I can eat it! 

Ooh can I have the recipe please grannie?? 

[GrannieAnnie]

Of course you can!  I used this one of Val's, its on here as are a few others in the recipe section.

http://www.allotment-garden.org/recipe/1067/beetroot-chutney-recipe-2/

[Mum2mj]

Thankyou  I like personal recommendations for recipes