Beetroot was first cultivated by the Romans, but it has remained a popular plant and today. Thanks to our special cultivation and harvesting techniques, we can sell beetroot all year round, so when you visit our famous Farm Shop, don’t be surprised to find beetroot out of season! How are we able to do this? Let’s find out.
Growing Beetroot
Beetroots need moist, fertile soil to grow. Seeds can be sown directly into the soil in the springtime, but if you are growing beetroot at home, you can sow seeds in pots. Beetroots are ready to harvest when they are the size of a tennis ball.
We harvest our beetroot crop from July with the last crop pulled in November. We remove the beetroot tops by twisting them off to preserve the juice. The next stage is to prepare a straw bed in the ground, where our beetroots are stored over winter. This is a shallow pit lined with fresh straw to protect our beets from the ground frost. The beets are unloaded into their straw bed and when the pit is full, we cover them with a layer of thick straw bales. This straw “duvet” protects the beets from the harsh winter weather and keeps them warm and cosy all winter long.
By the time spring comes, our beetroot crop is just as fresh as the day it went into its straw bed, so when you buy beetroot out of season from the Carpenter’s Farm Shop, you know it will be just as tasty as the day it was harvested from the field.
A Versatile Vegetable
Beetroot is an incredibly versatile vegetable. It has a distinctive flavour, but it is packed full of goodness. Beetroot greens are just as edible, too. Washed beetroot leaves are a delicious addition to a salad. Eat them raw or cook them like spinach, although some people might find them rather bitter. Beetroot root is very sweet and can be eaten raw or cooked. It is a colourful and tasty addition to salads and cold cuts, but you can also make beetroot soup or add it to stews. Beetroot soup, also known as Borscht, is very popular in Eastern Europe.
Add beetroot to your cheese sandwich at lunchtime or mix it with fresh natural yoghurt for a tasty dip.
Health Benefits of Beetroot
Raw beetroot is a rich source of iron, calcium, manganese, potassium, Folic Acid, and vitamins A and C. If you are suffering from high blood pressure, start eating beetroot or drink beetroot juice. The high nitrate content helps lower blood pressure. Beetroot is also helpful if you are suffering from constipation, as it improves bowel function. Lastly, researchers have found that beetroot can boost blood flow to the brain, which is believed to prevent dementia.
Visit the Carpenter’s Nursery Farm Shop and sample our delicious beetroot today – you won’t be disappointed!
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