Beetroot dig it out or leave it

[Atta]

We dont eat much of them I was wondering if to dig it out before weather go bad and keep in garrage in sand box (is sand from beach suitable?) Or just leave it in ground till november?

[Penellype]

I left mine in the ground last year but found that after frosts the exposed tops went an unpleasant greyish colour. Slugs weren't a problem last year but there is already quite a bit of damage this time. Damaged roots won't store, so what you do probably depends a bit on what state they are in.

[Mark_Riga]

I think they store better in the ground. I find roots start sprouting and going soft when I try to store them, probably not cold enough. Now I earth them up so the roots are all covered and then, later on, if hard frosts threaten and still have some left, cover with bracken which there is a lot of in the hedgerows round here.

[Snadger]

I have tried storing beets and carrots in sand or peat before without much success. They always seem to shrivel up or start rooting again. I leave both in the ground now and although a certain amount are attacked by slugs I still manage to get a reasonable crop.
Luckily mine are grown in beds which I can cover with glass frames, and I may try adding the glass soon.
Carrots definitely loose there taste in storage so must be lifted and cooked within a few hours of harvesting, but beets seem to keep thee taste even when stored.

[SimpleSimon]

I pulled about half of mine before the weather went west and most have gone soft in a cool, dark place. They are fine to eat but the ones still in the ground are better. Fella next to me on the plot just leaves them in the ground all winter and eats as and when.

[mcdood]

I leave mine in the ground. I also have them netted tho as this time of year the rodents develop a taste for them too

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks for asking this question, Atta. I've been pondering the same. Mine are now large and I wonder if they're even still edible. Anyone got any views on their likely edibility? They're Crosby's Egyptian and about 15 cm/6 inches in diameter.

I know the real answer is lift one and try one...

[lottie dolly]

Mine are going to get left in the ground this year,even freezing them takes the real taste away,the other week i did some very large golden beets,cooked then dices into big chunks for the freezer,thinking just fetch a few out for use as a dinner veg,blurrr,could have been anything,like the idea of giving them some protection when the frost starts.

[Snadger]

Thanks for asking this question, Atta. I've been pondering the same. Mine are now large and I wonder if they're even still edible. Anyone got any views on their likely edibility? They're Crosby's Egyptian and about 15 cm/6 inches in diameter.

I know the real answer is lift one and try one...

Flippin eck, are you sure they aren't a Texas variety?

[Snoop Puss]

^They look mad to me.

I shouldn't have sown so many all at once... In my defence, I just didn't expect them all to germinate.

[Penellype]

Some of mine grow very big. I find they lose flavour and are nowhere near as sweet as the younger roots. If they are getting old they may become stringy - when you cut a beetroot crossways you see rings, and those rings contain fibres which are fairly soft when the roots are young, but become woody as the plant gets older. The beetroot is therefore full of tough fibres.

The only way to find out is to try it.

[Greenleaves]

I always leave them in but cut the leaf back by 50%, dont ask me why as I am just doing what my grandpops did

[Snoop Puss]

What have you decided to do, Atta?

[Atta]

What have you decided to do, Atta?

Smoothie
I brought some to eat at home and trying to sneak them in muffins and smoothies so kids wouldnt notice .
I am going to leave some for later on but hopping to finish them before December.

For sure from advices above I will not keep them in sand.