Hedonisia Hawaii Tropical Educational Botanical Farm
Plant Inventory: "Dark Red Beets"

Name of Plant: Dark Red Beets

Uses:Young plants can be cooked with the root and top together, or use the root alone when it is golf ball size or larger.

Growing Tips: grow well in the cool temperatures of spring and fall. They do poorly in hot weather. Clear the planting area of rocks, Spade the soil 8 to 10 inches deep. Using a hoe handle, stick or similar object, make a furrow 1/2 inch deep down the center of the ridge. Each beet seed produces 2 to 6 plants. Space the seeds 1 to 2 inches apart in the row. Cover seeds lightly with loose soil and sprinkle with water. Use seed treated with a fungicide to prevent the young plants from rotting. Plants should be up in 7 to 14 days. In hot weather, cover seed with sand or light-colored mulch. Beets can be planted in partial shade, but their roots reach depths of 36 to 48 inches, so dont plant where tree roots will compete. Scratch the soil next to the plants with a rake or hand tool to prevent crusting. Do not work the soil more than 1 inch deep or the root systems may be injured. Water the plants well weekly if it does not rain. Begin thinning the beets as soon as they get crowded in the row. Young tops make excellent greens. After thinning, the plants should be 2 to 3 inches apart.

Harvest: Ready in 7-8 weeks. Young, tender tops are the best quality, but tips can be used until they get large and strong flavored. Pull the plants and cut off the root. If the tops are to be used, wash and place them in plastic bags in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days. Roots will keep 1 to 2 weeks in plastic bags in the refrigerator.