Anyone who thinks that harvesting beetroot is child's play and can be done without any background knowledge is wrong. To ensure that nothing goes wrong, harvesting the tubers requires certain basic knowledge. But what are they in detail?
How do I harvest beetroot correctly?
To harvest beetroot, ideally between July and October, dig up the root tubers with a diameter of 2.5 to 7.5 cm, leave the stems 2-3 cm long and twist off the leaves. The tubers can be stored refrigerated for several months.
A broad period of time
If the beetroot was grown early in March, with a bit of luck the harvest can begin in May. However, this also depends on the variety. In May the roots are still small and tender. Only from July onwards the root tubers are larger and the harvest is more productive.
When harvesting, it is important to note that the tubers have a diameter of between 2.5 and 7.5 cm. This is usually the case from July onwards. The ideal time of day to harvest beetroot is in the afternoon or evening.
The main harvest season starts in October. In autumn it is important to ensure that the beetroot is not exposed to severe frost. It can withstand temperatures down to -3 °C.
The most important steps when harvesting beetroot
Timing is not the only thing that determines success and failure when harvesting beetroot. There are a few points to consider when harvesting:
- Pull or dig up root tubers from the ground
- do not separate the stems completely (if they are between 2 and 3 cm long they can be stored for longer)
- Twist off the leaves and do not cut them off (otherwise the tuber will 'bleed')
To make harvesting easier, you can use a so-called digging fork (€139.00 on Amazon) to help. This carefully lifts the tuber in the ground and pushes it to the surface. The head is grabbed with the hands and the tuber is finally pulled out.
The tubers can be stored refrigerated for several months after harvest. For example, they can be stored in the refrigerator or in damp sand in a box in the basement. The quality of the tubers after storage differs depending on the respective variety.
Tips & Tricks
The leaves of the beetroot can also be harvested. This should be done early, when they are still tender, small (no larger than 10 cm) and low in oxalic acid. But be careful: To ensure that the tuber continues to grow, not all of the leaves must be cut off.
