Discovering the Sweet and Nutritious World of Beets

Eat your beets

Beets are a root vegetable, usually deep red in color, but they can also be white, yellow, or even striped! Beets are a great source of essential vitamins and minerals such as folate, vitamin C, and potassium. Beets also contain powerful antioxidants and compounds that may help reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and improve exercise performance. Beets are a great addition to any diet and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, from raw in salads to roasted, boiled, or even pickled.

How to grow beets

I love growing beets in my garden because they are simple to grow and you can harvest and use the entire plant. The beet roots are very nutritious but the greens can be utilised also and are very health friendly. Here are some tips for successfully growing beets:

1. Choose a spot in your garden that gets full sun for most of the day and is well-drained.

2. Prepare the soil by loosening it and removing any rocks, weeds, or debris. Beets prefer an acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.

3. Plant the seeds 1/2-1 inch deep, spaced 2-3 inches apart.

4. Water the seeds regularly and evenly, keeping the soil moist but not soggy.

5. Thin the seedlings to 3-4 inches apart when they are a few inches tall.

6. Fertilize the beets periodically with a balanced fertilizer.

7. Mulch the beets to help retain moisture and prevent weeds.

8. Harvest the beets when they are about 2-3 inches in diameter.

Harvest beets

To harvest beets, begin by determining the size of the beets. Small beets can be harvested after about 40-60 days, while larger beets should be left in the ground for up to 80 days. When harvesting, use a garden fork or trowel to loosen the soil around the root and carefully pull the beet out of the soil. Be sure to leave a few inches of stem attached to the beet. Once they are harvested, beets can be stored in the refrigerator or a cool dark place.

How to preserve beets

Preserving beets is a great way to enjoy them all year long! The first step is to select the freshest beets you can find. Then, you'll want to wash and trim them, leaving about two inches of stem attached. Once you've done this, you'll need to blanch them. To do this, boil a pot of water, and add the beets for about 4 minutes. After blanching, shock them in cold water to stop the cooking process. After that, you can either freeze, dehydrate, can, or pickle the beets. If you choose to freeze them, you'll want to slice or dice the beets before freezing them in airtight containers or bags. Dehydrating is another great way to preserve beets. Slice or dice them before dehydrating. To can them, you'll need to pressure can them in a pressure canner (I have a full video of pressure canning beets below). If you choose to pickle them, you can do so using a simple brine solution and your favorite pickling spices. No matter which method you choose, you'll have delicious, preserved beets to enjoy all year long!

Beet and Quinoa Salad

This is a colorful and flavorful recipe that you will love. Here's what you'll need:

• 2 medium beets, boiled and diced

• 1 cup cooked quinoa

• 1/2 cup diced red onion

• 1/3 cup chopped fresh dill

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the cooked and diced beets, cooked quinoa, diced red onion, and chopped fresh dill.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

3. Pour the dressing over the beet mixture and toss to combine.

4. Serve the salad chilled or at room temperature.