Drop the Beet!
Have you ever considered gardening, but were too intimidated? Afraid that you will kill everything? It is easier than it seems to grow healthy, fresh food and you don’t even need a lot of space.
Springtime is the best time to start planning what you would like to grow and where. If this is your first garden, aim for plants that are easy to grow and easy to take care of. Here are a few plants that I would recommend for first time gardeners. Growing these sure fire crops this year will give you the confidence to try other crops in the future years.
Beets
Also known as beet roots, are a vibrant cool-season crop that is easily grown from seed. Beets are a versatile crop that come in various sizes, shapes and colors, and are cultivated for both their roots and their greens. Widely recognized as a “superfood”, beets and their greens are good sources of fiber, folate, vitamins A and K, manganese, and potassium. Their rich red and yellow colors of beets signifies that they contain betalains; a plant nutrient with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties!
Pre-soaking seeds overnight helps with germination; plant seeds about 1” down in well-worked soil. Beets should be planted in early spring or late summer for a fall harvest. While deep red is the most common, there are also yellow and white varieties available, as well as red-white ringed ones. If you are looking to experiment with different beet varieties, consider trying a few of these.
‘Detroit dark red’ is a classic heirloom variety that was first introduced in 1892. These deep red, rounded roots have smooth skin and are sweet, mild and tender, making them perfect for canning, roasting or slicing raw in salads. And don’t forget about the tops! The tender and flavorful leaves have dark green foliage and bright red stems. You can harvest these beauties in 60 days, and the greens in 35.
‘Cylindra’ is an heirloom worth considering if you are interested in pickling and canning. These elongated roots have smooth skin and deep red flesh, boasting a sweet and mild flavor with a hint of earthiness. Maturing at six to eight inches long and about two inches in diameter, they have a width that’s perfect for slicing. Great for small gardens! Harvest these beets in 60-70 days.
‘Golden Detroit’ produces sweet and mild one to three-inch oval-shaped roots with a beautiful orange-yellow color that are delicious both raw and cooked. The light green tops with pale stems have no hint of bitterness, which makes them an ideal addition to summer salads. Ready to harvest in 55 days.
‘Ruby Queen’ is an heirloom that was named an All-American Selection winner in 1957. This beet cultivar is a hardy plant that thrives in poor soil conditions, making her an easy choice for beginner gardeners. Her deep-red, perfectly round roots grow to about two to three inches in size and are known for their sweet and mild flavor, as well as their palatable texture. These characteristics make her an ideal choice for canning and preserving. She goes from seed to table in about 55 days.
‘White Detroit’ is a unique heirloom cultivar with all the delicious flavor of a red beet but without all the staining. This variety produces creamy-white, three-inch roots that are sweet, and robust in taste. It matures relatively quickly in just 55 days and can even be harvested early for baby beets.
Whether sliced raw in a salad, transformed into a rich soup, pickled or canned, homegrown beets are both delicious and nutritious!