[mkhenry]

We all know that you should lift beets in October before the frosts get to them.
Also that you should twist off the stems instead of cutting so that they do not bleed,but when you do so your hands will become badly stained.
To remove this red/pink stain rub them with the rind or juice of a lemon.Job done.
Wear gloves I hear some of you cry.You can but it just about ruins them. :?

[DD.]

We all know that you should lift beets in October before the frosts get to them.

Oh - I left mine in last year. The lady I trade horse muck for veg with said the footballs were delicious despite their size!

[shaun]

we boil ours with the stalks left on its somthing ive never stored realy

[DD.]

I don't like beetroot, but they are a good barter for horse muck. WG would approve.

[Annie]

..actually didn`t realise I should harvest all beetroots now,would they be OK if I  put a coldframe over them as I prefere them fresh rather than pickled.
As for staining I have grown Chioggia again so no stained hands but although they taste really nice and are a lot less prone to slug damage and the folliage is still looking good my brain cannot match the colour with the taste...back to stained hands next year,although baby wipes work too.

[shaun]

does WG like to barter DD ?

[WG.]

Easiest way Annie is to draw the soil up over the top of them to keep the frost off.

[Annie]

Thanks WG,I have quite a few left.

[DD.]

does WG like to barter DD ?

Is the Pope Catholic?

[DD.]

Easiest way Annie is to draw the soil up over the top of them to keep the frost off.

We don't get frost here in the Southern Hemisphere.

[Trillium]

I use the plastic type surgeon's gloves for beets and haven't ruined a pair yet      I grew the chiogga's this year too and they have a lovely mild taste and don't stain the hands. But, the yield wasn't as great as regular reds, which I started later. Mine are now all a nice palm size, which I think I'll freeze as Munty suggested.  I too noticed that the chiogga leaves have no bug damage at all, whereas the reds have a bit. The gold beets are finally a respectable size to cook with. Will cook a big one, peeled and sliced with a red one and top with a vinaigrette.

[mkhenry]

we boil ours with the stalks left on its somthing ive never stored realy

Beetroot left in the ground does not keep as well as those that are stored correctly.Not my words but those of a few of the famous gardeners,but I do agree with them.If we have a mild winter they will mostly be ok but can lose their fresh taste.Properly stored they will go on without drying until next march.
For those who do choose to store or for those who wish to give it a try with a few to test,store as follows.
Store in layers in a boxes filled with damp sand.Do not let them touch each other,stand them all root upwards,and make sure that the top ones are completely covered.Place in a frost free shed or perhaps the garage.
They will taste better than those left in the ground.

[shaun]

we pickle most of the late beets.i just need another warehouse henry for all these boxes of sand  

[Annie]

My chioggia grow faster and than the Boltardy and they crop through for longer and you can pick the leaves for salad longer,they are in everyway better in this garden..if only they were a different colour!

[muntjac]

we boil ours with the stalks left on its somthing ive never stored realy

Beetroot left in the ground does not keep as well as those that are stored correctly.Not my words but those of a few of the famous gardeners,but I do agree with them.If we have a mild winter they will mostly be ok but can lose their fresh taste.Properly stored they will go on without drying until next march.
For those who do choose to store or for those who wish to give it a try with a few to test,store as follows.
Store in layers in a boxes filled with damp sand.Do not let them touch each other,stand them all root upwards,and make sure that the top ones are completely covered.Place in a frost free shed or perhaps the garage.
They will taste better than those left in the ground.

 been rummaging around my sheds again mk?