Need to store my Beetroot.

[tim]

Prefer Peat or substitute, but only have peatfree compost. Will that harm them?

[tim]

[kt.]

Wish I had some to eat let alone store.  :(    Only a few on our site managed to get beetroot this year.

[tim]

I normally have a problem, but Cylindra have saved the day.

Of course, I much prefer Golden - which are not yet ready.

So what about the storage medium?

[keef]

Vinegar  ;)

[tim]

Get that cigarette out of your mouth & give me a straight answer!

[keef]

- Grinds f*g butt into the ground - walks back into bar -

Well sand or peat works with carrots. They might bleed over time though, maybe straw might be better. I wonder what commercial growers use? Also, just a thought,  you might get away with freezing them.


Edit : From another allotment site,

http://www.allotment.org.uk/articles/blanching.PDF

[Susiebelle]

Tim sorry can't help with the peat free query however I don't know whether you have tried freezing them - I'm sure you must have I do, golf ball size then roast from frozen - delicious! As an afterthought did you happen to catch Rick Stein's ideas for beetroot in April's Gardeners' World?

[tim]

Freezing's fine, but I like some au naturel. Hence wondering if the fertiliser in compost would affect them.

Rick? No.

[saddad]

I grow some potatoes in dustbins and use cheap compost just so I have lots of spent to store carrots etc... should be OK..
;D

[keef]

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Stephen_Nottingham/beetroot4.htm

All you need to know about beetroot - scroll down to the bit on storage..

[tim]

When you say all, Keef, you mean all!

Agree with that, Dad - but my compost is unused.

[Sparkly]

Interesting link  ;D We have had a great crop of beetroot this year (our first on the allotment). We have been eating it fresh and pickling as much as we can (i really love pickled beetroot). We still have quite alot left in at the plot. I am planning to pull it up this weekend and pickle it all. We have been growing 'boltardy' and have found it very sweet with good germination and nice texture. I am planning to plant some more next week and hopefully get a crop over winter! Next year I think I will store some from fresh.

[tim]

Hope you use a decent mix - like 1/2 cup brown (or white) Sugar in 1 cup Cider (or other) Vinegar?

[shirlton]

I wouldn't go anywhere near that peat free stuff after what it did to my plant the other year (I did post about it when you were on about it before Tim). I think there must have been something in the stuff cos it killed all my plants. I definitely would not put precious beetroot in it. Send them to me instead and I will store them for you.lol. we are going to plant a load more next year cos we keep running out. Have you tried Sanguina Tim.

[tim]

Noted!

Sanguina? No - I normally stick to Golden which doesn't ruin you pinny & has a more gentle flavour. But Real Seeds seem to like it?

[Froglegs]

Pinny ??? ???

[lottie42]

For those of you who decide to pickle Beetroot this is a good link for some hints on how to do it.  also some good recipes for Beetroot.  Cant help I'm afraid for fresh storage, I dont have a clue...

[lottie42]

Sorry wrong link for the beetroot pickling.  Hope no one got too much of a shock. oops...     Should be  www.oliver1.co.uk/recipes/beetroot.htm   Hope this works.   

[tim]

I actually only wear a half apron, Froggie!

[Froglegs]

Had me worried there for a minute Tim. :o ;) :)