IN THE GARDEN Beets
Beets are fun and easy to grow at preschool or center-based gardens! They are planted early in spring and the seeds are large and fun to look at. Review the tips below for a successful harvest.
**********************************************************************************************************
SUN: Full Sun
******************************************************************************************************************************************************
WATER: Regular water
******************************************************************************************************************************************************
SOIL: Beets grow well sandy soils with good aeration. They thrive in soils with good drainage and uniform soil moisture.
******************************************************************************************************************************************************
SEEDS: Beet seeds are fun to look at and easy to plant: place each seed l/2 to 3/4 inch deep in rows 18 to 24 inches apart.
******************************************************************************************************************************************************
PLANT: Plant in early spring. Beets can withstand frost and can be planted 30 days before the last frost date for the area and continued through mid summer. While the plants prefer warmer weather, the seeds prefer cooler. They are best as an early season and fall crop.
******************************************************************************************************************************************************
SPACE: Each plant needs enough soil space to grow to
maturity. As the seedlings come up, thin them to be
1-3 inches apart.
******************************************************************************************************************************************************
CARE: Be sure to keep the garden bed weeded, especially when plants are young and establishing themselves.
******************************************************************************************************************************************************
HARVEST: While beets can be harvested at any stage depending on your preferred size, typically harvesting occurs at ~ 60 days. They will quickly increase in size if left in the soil, but left for too long, they will become tough and fibrous. Keep your eyes out for the ‘crowning’ of the beet as it begins to emerge from the soil. At 60 days, remove a plant by pulling gently on the greens. If a larger size is desired and there is ample space for them to grow, leave them in the ground and continue checking.
******************************************************************************************************************************************************
STORAGE AND HANDLING
-
Roots should be reasonably dry and free of soil for best results.
-
Look for smooth, hard, and round beets that are free of cuts and bruises.
-
Oversized roots may be woody.
-
If greens remain, avoid wilted or browned leaves. However, even with wilted leaves, roots are likely still delicious.
-
Remove the green tops from beets and store each in separate, unsealed plastic bags.
-
Topped beets can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4-8 weeks. However, cook the green tops within one to two days.
