On Friday we planted out beetroot so that next
year we can use a juicer to make beetroot, and apple juice. We also looked at
companion planting and good and bad insects and made a garlic spray which I
will finish at home.
Here are some companions that the beetroot
likes to grow with.
Carrot, cucumber, lettuce, onion, beans,
fennel, cabbage, broccoli, kale, kohlrabi.
Here is how beetroot
likes to grow.
·
Sun/part shade
·
Fertile sandy soil
·
Grow from seed
To maintain our
Beetroot here is what we have to do:
·
For a well-rounded root your plants will need regular watering -
especially in dry spells. Best is to check soil moisture on dry days – should
be cool and damp when you push your finger tip beneath the surface Round or cylindrical roots.
What part do we eat.
Leaves
can be picked during the growing period, just pinch one or two from each plant
to add to salads. Careful you don’t pull on the roots when you do this – best
use a knife.
As soon as the sight of those swollen roots starts you thinking about salads,
pickles and the like then they are ready for harvest. Size-wise, we are talking
about halfway between a golf ball and a tennis ball – unless they are
cylindrical in which case the size of a medium to large carrot should do. Don’t
let roots get too big or they will be tough and fibrous.
