BEETROOT Easy to grow and much more tasty than ‘fresh’ shop bought beetroot. Harvest when the size of a tennis ball. Sow the seeds thinly from April to June in drills 2cm deep with 30cm between rows. It is a good idea to sow part rows at weekly intervals to get a succession of roots. Some varieties can be sown earlier under cloches. This seedlings to 10cm between plants, keep weed free and water regularly. Loosen roots with fork and pull gently, twist off the leaves about 4-5cm from the crown, do not cut or damage the skin as this will result in bleeding during cooking with a loss of colour and flavour.
Wash in cold water and cook in boiling water for 1-2 hours. Rub off the skin when cool.