The annual beetrool cull 2013

It got to that time of year again when the fish boxes were rampaging full of beets and their leaves.  Whilst pretty, regal and purple (in the main) they're notorious for shooting up to seed in the blink of an eye if left unchecked. Instantly bolting, they also ensure they each turn neatly into mini purple timber nuggets, too woody for a beaver to chew and survive, shrivelled and probably fit only for the fire with their woodyness. So something HAD to be done. And fast. Mr F is a big beetroot fan and he wants his stash for the winter. So who am I to argue, after all I'm only the gardener/cook.

So they've joined the ranks of wedding fodder to be, beets pulled ready for boiling and deskinning - leaves ready to freeze as 'spinach' - aside a bit of a pink stem - you'd never know the difference.  Always twist your beet heads off the leaves - never cut - or they bleed like babies.

I'm tackling the beetroots this weekend - probably chop them into bitesized little chunklets, ready to serve up at our wedding feast, so we'll need minimal preparation when they are called on. Call me old fashioned but I don't think that pink/purple hands and wedding dresses really are the best idea.

Whilst I'm not very fashion conscious, I'm sure I did read that much in a gardening  magazine somewhere. Don't wear a frock and try and tackle beetroot.  And we all know beetroot juice is a bugger to get out of most things.

 

{Post match analysis of species grown in 2013.

The outdoor beetroots frankly came to nothing although sown on the same day. I think it sulked at being put inbetween the shallots. Won't be doing that again. I won't shame their respective species into naming them, for fear they'll hate me. They all got a D minus.

 

Indoor beets (polytunnel) on the other hand worked far better and worth their tunnel space harvesting early August until late September/early October. So Indoors - whilst the Detroit's did very well and the Bolthardy's proved to be just that - the Cylindra gave up the ghost and were utterly pathetic germinating well and then sitting around like a sulky teenager unable to either move, go out or actually do ANYTHING. Burpee's Golden were a little odd but not disheartening in harvest or colour. Although odd, not nearly as unappealing as yellow tomatoes proved to be this year. Just saying. Overall the 'spinach' gained from the patches was great too - and easily pickable as 'early salad' without affecting the crops too much. A good all rounder in the veggie department if a little sulky outside in Orkney.}