Growing Beets

Beets growing in my garden.

I harvested the first beets on Sunday and made Harvard beets along with my Crock Pot pot roast, a family favorite, and homemade from scratch mashed potatoes.  We love beets, and while the weather stays cool enough I plan to pickle and can many of the fresh ones that are ready to be harvested.

My latest article written today for gardening community site Main Line Gardening features tips on Growing Beets, but what I wished I could have stressed more without sounding like a parrot squawking the same word over and over again - "Easy! Easy! Easy!" - is really, just how easy they are. People who say wistfully, "Gee, I wish I could grow a garden" should just get some beet seeds and chuck them in a little furrow in the ground and put a stick there to remind themselves of what they planted and be done with it. I can guarantee that in 8 to 10 weeks, you'll have beets.  Don't be afraid. Just plant those seeds!  Early spring or late summer or late fall are the best times to plant beets. They need about 60 to 65 degree days to sprout and grow, and they can take some frost so it's okay to plant them in the fall.

But whatever you do, just plant them - and enjoy!

Growing Beets, my latest article for Main Line Gardening.