Beetroot is often grown a little later so that the harvest time falls in the fall, because the he althy vegetable can be stored optimally and preserved for the winter. You can also overwinter a few beets in the ground and look forward to the seeds next year.
How can you overwinter beets?
To overwinter beets, you can leave some beets in the ground and protect them from frost so they will set seeds next year. Harvested beets can be stored raw or cooked for months in the cellar, refrigerator or freezer.
Beetroot is a biennial
What hardly anyone knows: beetroot is a biennial. The tuber is formed in the first year and flowers and seeds appear in the second year. Since most home gardeners harvest beetroot and do not want to propagate it, it is harvested when the tuber is large enough and therefore does not form seeds.
Overwintering beets and collecting seeds
Beetroot seeds are not expensive, but it is exciting, easy and absolutely free to let the beetroot produce its own seeds and sow your own seeds the following year. To do this, simply leave a few beets standing in the fall. In no case do not remove the herb, as it still contains nutrients and protects the beets from the cold. Although the beetroot is somewhat hardy, you should cover the beets with brushwood or something similar and protect them from frost.
The following spring the beets bloom inconspicuously greenish. However, the pink stems, which are up to one meter high, are beautiful to look at. You can then harvest the seeds in summer.
Beetroot harvested overwintering
Beetroot can be stored very well and can be stored for months. That's why many gardeners harvest them late in the year and "overwinter" them at home.
Store beets raw or cooked?
Beetroot can be stored both raw and cooked, but of course in different ways. The following storage locations are possible for raw beetroot:
- Basement
- refrigerator
For cooked beetroot, however, other storage locations are possible:
- refrigerator
- Freezer
- cooked in a jar
Tip
If cleaned well and placed in paper or sand, the raw beetroot can be stored in the cellar for up to five months. Here you can find out how to store beets correctly.
Preserving beets
A lot of things can be made from beetroot. Beetroot chips are even popular with children who are more opposed to beets. Beetroot is also a special treat when pickled, be it sweet and sour or just boiled with s alt.
