Edible Gardens with Mrs Lyons

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.