When to harvest beetroot and how to store it

Beetroot is one of the most popular crops and it may be seen in almost every vegetable garden. This great vegetable contains a lot of nutrients beneficial to our bodies. Let us mention at least vitamin B and C, potassium, selenium, iron, zinc and magnesium, but there are many more. But in today’s article we shall not focus on nutrients, nor shall we give you any advice regarding beetroot cultivation. We shall mainly focus on harvesting and storage.

Double harvest

Beetroot is one of the plants that can be harvested gradually but it cannot be left in the ground for a long time, because its roots would turn woody and will, in fact, be unusable. The first harvest is considered the time when you are removing individual green leaves of the plant and use them. Dried leaves at the edges of the greens are not used but are excellent for compost. Roots may also be harvested gradually. It depends on the growing season and of the cultivar.

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The growing season varies

It mainly depends on the fact whether you have early, late or some other types of beetroot seeds. The growing season is written on each package. It traditionally ranges from 60 to 120 days after sowing. So, if you sowed beets in July, you will be able to enjoy a solid harvest in September. But make sure you harvest before the first frosts hit.

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Beetroot storage

You can store beets throughout the entire winter in your cellar and you should not have any problems. Beetroots are traditionally stored in cellars in September – just before the arrival of first frosts. Boxes of sawdust are usually used for storage, as these saturate moisture from the air during winter. Before use, try cutting the top of the beetroot and then put the top in a bowl of water and you will be surprised how quickly the top sprouts leaves, which you can use right away. Beetroot can also be frozen, dried or canned. There are many ways and it only depends on your taste and preferences.

Photo: Pixabay