Bulls Blood Beets

[gazza1960]

Just watched "The Great British Food revival" prog and we being beet luvers are interested in trying the Bulls Blood variety next season.

I have grown Detroit 2,s this last 2 years and to be honest only use the globe which I roast/pickle/and eat as salads....very tasty.....and one of our most successful veggies.

But,after reading about the culinary leaf usage of the bulls blood + the large root looks worth a go next season.

Has anybody grown this type before ......steady ...dont panic im not after freeby seeds,just an insight
into the veg type itself.

Ive seen some seeds on fleabay so will consider getting some if I get any positive feedback.

Cheers

Gaznjude

[gazza1960]

[cambourne7]

Yep i seen it and though some of the dishes looked very yum :)

(not sure i would drink it though)

I tried bulls blood on the lotty and never got much success found bolthardy much better but might consider it again and see if it works in the garden any better :) also want to get some of the golden varieties :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

I like beetroot myself but the odd time I've tried it the wife has complained about how the colour affects everything. Maybe she needs to be more acclimatised to it, but how can you use it so as to minimise bleeding? So far the only solution I've found is white beetroot.

[Ian Pearson]

I've grown Bulls Blood for a couple of years. The leaves make great steamed 'greens' (tho' of course, they are red). Roots are so-so. The plants look striking among other crops.
Another good red leaved one is Macgregor's Favourite, which was originally grown as bedding plants in ornamental gardens. It's usually listed by seed companies misleadingly as a decorative (I think to avoid having to register it with the EEC as a vegetable).

[Digeroo]

I have not grown bulls blood but like the yellow ones.  Burpee Golden is for me the best.  Albina tastes ok but I do not like the colour.  Choggia is ok as well, pink striped flesh, though tastes best uncooked sliced very thinly.   

[gazza1960]

Cheers for any and all replies.

Interested in the raw state Beet salad option as at home we have only boiled it,as an aside I did read that as it contains Vitamin C which is water soluble, I may be tipping away goodness down the sink when the boiling process is finished,that said,as im cooking it at a stage with the skin on maybe there would be too many impurities to consume the fluid.

So,maybe just juicing the cooked veg after skinning sounds the healthiest option to get pure juice.

Anyway,Jude likes the idea of a flower bed being broken up with the leaves of the bullsblood.....even if we dont end up eating the root.

Gazza

[Monkey Brains]

Not tried Bulls Blood, though I've bought some seeds for next year, so looking forward to seeing that one now  :)

I've found Boltardy has been a reliable tasty crop (though most of it bolted this year, it was so dry). We pick ours while still small - peeled and roasted with a dash of balsamic added for last 10 mins of roasting.

[Mrs Ava]

I have grown it for the last 2 years.  They make a lot of wonderful foliage which is delicious, small as salad leaves, big like spinach, and the roots are okay.

I did juice a lot and mixed it with apple juice as it was too strong to drink it neat.  However it didn't agree with me so I stopped drinking it.  The roots however I adore and eat plenty of.

[pansy potter]

I always grow Sanguina.I believe the name has something to do with blood

[Robert_Brenchley]

It's from the Latin. Sanguis = blood.

[aj]

Sanguina is one of my favourites.

However I obtained some Dobbie's Purple this year and wallop - hoooooge roots on them. So big my lottie neighbour begged me for seeds and I've now given him a whole root which has been lovingly planted so that he can save his own next year.

I have 4 sat there for the winter, just waiting for them to flower and set seed for me.

Can't wait to grow those again.

In answer to the bleeding issue; I boil and peel under the tap, and put them whole in a bowl, drain off any residual water and use a pair of tongs to hold them still whilst I chop. My fave recipe is put some mayo or creme fraiche in there, with some cumin, chilli and pepper and have as a side salad.

I also find that having them on a plate during the winter helps to alleviate the need for tomatoes. Possibly just the colour helps jazz up winter salads.

[pansy potter]

Sounds good .Will have to try some of those

[saddad]

Like Aj I got some "Dobies Purple" from HSL and have been very impressed...  :)

[gazza1960]

Luv the idea of your side salad AJ,top idea that one.

I know its a bit off track here and please forgive the newby Q......

The idea of reseeding from  plants,my plot neighbour is from the same skool of letting things go to seed and obtaining
next seasons seeds to save money etc etc.

Although he does mention that "some" plants do not benefit from a further seeding before he buys new........ie

he gave us some sweetcorn seeds and runner beans,they were brilliant,but he said do not use them again from end of season pods for the following season as they would not be as good......I know nothing of the rights or wrongs of reseeding so re your Beets.....does the same apply or would we just be better off buying new seeds and starting over.
Infact for our learning curve id like a book on the subject really so we can study what veggies can be left to go to seed so that jude and I know which ones to take seeds from and store and which ones to compost.


cheers

Gazza

[aj]

Sweetcorn you need about 100 plants and you need to isolate them.

Runners, unless everyone in your vicinity is growing the same variety - they will cross so also need isolating.

Beets are fine, and if you select for taste/earliness/size etc, eventually the seeds that you have will be acclimatised to your general area.

There is a good seed saving in schools document on here http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/growyourown/posters-resources.php, which I helped to write and took photos for, if you want some further reading.

[gazza1960]

Cheers AJ your article is well written and a mind of info for any and all to take on board..... ;)

Gaznjude

[saddad]

Following that prog on I-player... OH has just pulled a large golden beet to roast with tea...  :)