It’s been my experience that there are two camps when it comes to beets: beet lovers and beet haters. I am a beet lover. I couldn’t imagine my garden without them. They complete me. I’m not ashamed to admit it.
I like to plant a variety of beets. It allows me to pick and choose based on how I want to prepare them:
- Gourmet Blend {My favorite!}
- Chioggia {Looks neat when sliced!}
- Bulls Blood
- Early Wonder {Tasty beet greens}
How to Grow Beets from Seed:
Beets are super easy because you sow them directly outdoors about 2-4 weeks before the average last frost. I like to soak my seeds for 24 hours prior to planting. Push the seeds into the dirt about 1/2″ deep and about every 4″ apart {I usually plant 3-4 seeds per spot and thin them to one every 4″ when they are 2″ tall}.
They are slower growers, so mulching them in the hotter months will prevent them from drying out and cracking. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy.
When Are Beets Ready to Harvest?
Beets are ready when they are 1-1/2″ to 3″ in diameter. You can also harvest the leaves for salads, cooking, garnishes, etc. by just snipping them off. To harvest the beet, loosen the soil around the base of the beet and either gently pull or left them out with a garden spade. Don’t wash them until you are ready actually eat/prepare them; they will last longer unwashed.
Random Facts That Will Impress No One:
Beets have such a strong color, they have been used for centuries as a dye. In the 19th century, English Victorians used beets to dye their hair {probably a little better for you than the stuff we use now}.
About 10-15% of adults experience beeturia after they consume beets–which is basically just a fancy way to say their pee turns red.
Beets are supposed to increase your stamina. Studies have shown that athletes that consume beet juice can exercise about 15% longer. I guess it’s like gardening Gatorade.
Are you pro-beet or anti-beet? Pro-beeters {totally a thing}, what’s your favorite way to eat them?
~Mavis
P.S. For awesome beet recipe ideas, check out Tender by Nigel Slater. It features over 400 garden fresh recipes {beets included, of course} and extensive gardening notes.
RebeccaW says
I am definitely pro-beets. My favorite way to eat them is pickled in a salad. Second in line is roasted and in a salad with walnuts and feta – – – yummmmmmmmmm.
Mrs. C. says
Pro-beet and, like you, I LOVE pickled beets!
Kara says
Beet lover here! Roasted on salad with goat cheese and walnuts. Or feta or blue cheese. It’s all good!
Carrie says
Beets are the one vegetable I just can’t get use to. I’ve forced myself to like mushrooms, olives, pickles and mustard because they are good for you but I just can’t do beets.
Any recipes that are good that mask the earthy flavor? I can’t get over the dirt taste but I’d love to try. I already grow beets for a friend who loves them roasted. The leaves are so beautiful I would grow them just to look at them!
Tracy T says
I agree – I need a recipe to make me like them. I want to like them. They are so pretty and healthy and good, but they taste like eating dirt.
Phyllis says
You could try sugar beets. They’re white with a mild flavor and about 20% sweeter than other beets. You can puree and add to baked goods, much like zucchini. There are some good recipes for brownies and chocolate cake with sugar beet puree…but don’t eat until the next day or you can still taste the beet flavor. Also the greens of sugar beets have a very mild flavor.
Sue says
Do other root vegetables taste “dirt”ish to you too? If not, maybe try roasting a mix of root veggies — carrots, turnips, beets, with some potatoes maybe — if you dice them all up similar sizes maybe the flavors blend?
my favorite way to eat beets is either shredded raw onto a salad, or roasted and then mixed with a sour cream dressing… Side benefit of being so pretty to look at!
Michelle says
Recently became a beet lover!!!! Love them roasted especially. Good boiled and mashed as well. The
Beet truly is a super food in my opinion… Great liver cleanser.
Christy says
I’ve only had them pickled. Yum. Don’t know any ways to prepare them. Can’t you eat the greens too?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes you can eat the greens Christy… they are not my favorite but The Girl LOVES them in her smoothies.
Lace Faerie says
Beet lover! Simplest is best, steamed, peeled, buttered. Like pickled in my salads, too.
Phyllis says
Mavis, do you eat the root of bull’s blood or just the leaves? I’ve had trouble getting the root to bulk up or with it turning woody. But the leaves are truely beautiful.
I’m a beet lover married to a beet hater. Hubby always says beets taste like dirt! Then one day I read a study that said most women describe the flavor of beets as “sweet” while most men describe them as tasting like “dirt” so hubby feels vindicated.
Grandma ONLY served pickled beets for special occasions, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and birthdays upon request. Treated them like they were more valuable than gold. Imagine my surprise when as an adult I learned how easy they are to grow and pickle. Still LOVE pickled beets!
Susan from Dallas says
Hi Mavis,
I am planting beets for the first time this year and have two questions.
Did I hear you say that beets don’t mind wet soil? We don’t have a lot of sunny areas in our suburban Dallas backyard but the one area tends to have poor drainage. Also, can they withstand 100 plus heat?
Secondly, how do I know when these underground lovelies are ready to harvest?
Love both your blogs,
Susan
Chris M says
Love beets! Consider them my “two-fer” vegetable as we love the greens (and, stems) sauteed and then the beets, especially roasted and in salads. My favorite salad is: diced, roasted beets; a diced apple, walnuts, and feta (or, bleu cheese) in a poppy seed dressing! Yum! Some people hate to work with beets because of the effect on your hands, but I just go for it. No vinyl gloves for me 🙂 Seems like one more thing for the trash …
Mary from Chattanooga says
I just planted beets for the first time upon your recommendation!
My MIL grew them and pickled them and they were divine!
The little guys are poking through the ground already since I followed your instructions to soak before planting!
I’m excited to use them!
PL says
Pickled with cinnamon and ground ginger! Yummo!
Eliz says
LOVE beets!! Beet soup (bortsch) and beet salad with roasted beets/goat cheese/arugula…YUM!
My husband also eats beets for his high blood pressure- it really does bring it down!
Joanna says
Love them juiced with fruit & other veggies. Roasted and pickled are always good!
JessB says
I love them roasted. Sooo good with onions roasted with them then topped with balsamic, goat cheese, and pecans over spinach. Yum.
I don’t thin my beets. You can harvest the baby-sized ones and then the others will grow larger and fill the space in. No waste gardening.