[GrannieAnnie]

Last year I had loads of beetroots, this year not that many at all, was it the weather, the seed who knows but germination rates were about 40% this year. I have put a late sowing in just to see what happens. we opened our last jar from last year a week ago, I'm guessing currently I only have enough for a couple of jars 

A many of my beetroot seeds were old, some 5 years old!    my first sowing was VERY poor, so I tipped the whole lot onto a container with damp kitchen towel, and almost all of them germinated, so I transplanted them to modules, then planted 140 of them out.  I had to throw the rest as there were just too many! 

[azubah]

Beetroot's great with a cheese and egg salad too!

Has anyone cooked one in a microwave, and if so, for how long? Boiling a biggun takes ages...

I  have microwaved small ones in an inch of water in a suitable bowl. Cover with Clingfilm (punctured) to avoid splashes all over the inside of the oven. Any small bits of root left on tend to char. I would microwave for a minute and then stab it to check how it is doing.

[Headgardener22]

Beetroot's great with a cheese and egg salad too!

Has anyone cooked one in a microwave, and if so, for how long? Boiling a biggun takes ages...

Old fashioned pressure cooker. Takes 30 minutes for a big one.

[green_lolly]

Growster - my mum used to cook them whole in the pressure cooker.

I'm also a recent convert to beetroot. First time growing and they've done well.

Made chocolate and beetroot cake last week. Yummy.

[GrannieAnnie]

I really must try beetroot and chocolate cake!  xxxxx

[Tenhens]

Never heard of that one before.  Sounds interesting.
Our beetroots have been a non starter this year, so disappointing! Remember as a child seeing them bubbling away in the pan and peeling with the 'marigolds' on, yummy!!    Last years were reasonable.  Will try again next year.

[Growster...]

Beetroot's great with a cheese and egg salad too!

Has anyone cooked one in a microwave, and if so, for how long? Boiling a biggun takes ages...

I  have microwaved small ones in an inch of water in a suitable bowl. Cover with Clingfilm (punctured) to avoid splashes all over the inside of the oven. Any small bits of root left on tend to char. I would microwave for a minute and then stab it to check how it is doing.

Thank you, Azubah - it's worth a try isn't it!

I shouldn't brag, but ours are the size of grapefruit though...

[Mr Dog]

Boiled, pickled, pickled with a dash of chilli, roasted in either olive oil or olive oil and balsamic vinegar with or without garlic, beetroot relish........ all ways delicious.

[Steveharford]

I have always boiled mine but was convinced by the wife to microwave them. A half inch of water in the bowl and cling film over the top. Half a dozen of them took about 15 mins. And they were great !

[GrannieAnnie]

I may just try that next time, but I boiled the rest of what I had picked this afternoon! 

[Wiltshire Worms]

we do normally microwave small beets, larger ones I cook in the slow cooker...does them perfectly

[azubah]

Just a thought.. large beets might need piercing to stop them from exploding during cooking in a microwave.

[GrannieAnnie]

I've never microwaved a beetroot, but wouldn't piercing it make it bleed?  Beetroot are usually cooked including tops and bottoms to stop them bleeding.

I just boil them until soft, even large ones take take any more than 25-30 mins.

[cudsey]

I have had a very bad year for beetroot I have grown them for the last ten years and never had any problems, sowed some in March this year they came up ok and leaves very healthy but nothing underneath I have tried them in various parts of the lottie and a lot have not even germinated wondered if mice eat the seeds I must say that I have moved lotties and last year was the first on the new plot and the beetroot was ok     

thanks for any advice