Early Blood Turnip - Beetroot

[jayb]

I've been growing these for a few years and they really are a lovely beetroot, gorgeous deep coloured flesh which is sweet and tasty, they are a good size and don't bolt. What more could you want!

Well, seeds.

I've been trying for a few years to get a seed crop with little sucess, mostly due to pesky mice. This year I've managed to harvest a good amount of beets from seed sown form two sources, ISSA and SSE. I've set aside what I hope is a reasonable amount of roots to overwinter and reselect in the spring before planting out and growing for a crop of seed. Wish me luck

I'd wondered about their name, they really do have a turnip-swede shape.




Choosing beets to store for seed




An assortment for cooking, about 12lbs here destined for pickled beetroot and beetroot chutney - my mums favourite.

[Galina]

You have chosen some really nice ones for seed saving. Hope all goes well with storage. And still lots left over to eat. As you know my fortune with these and other beetroots was not so good and I haven't grown any this year. Last year the roots were eaten in the ground and all I got was leaves. Fortunately (judging by the amount of evidence left) the visiting cat is making an inroad into the rodent population. I am pleased for you that you did so well with this excellent variety.

Well beetroots can be globe shaped to long rooted, like a shortish fat carrot. When I grew Early Blood Turnip a few years ago, most were elongated.

Enjoy the products of your work, Jayb. These are lovely.

[jayb]

Yayy for the visiting cat, hope he gets those mice under control, it doesn't take many to do a whole lot of damage. I was so chuffed not to have any sign of them in with the beetroots this year, what a difference! I've packed them in sand in the dustbin, fingers crossed. I expect you will be able to hear me scream if anything goes wrong!

The beetroot chutney we made was delish, some was meant for pressies but it's been eaten and have made another double batch!

The camera doesn't do the the colour anywhere near the real thing, it's just so intense. Are the longer ones something more like the shape you had?

[Galina]

Yes, not looooooong long, just slightly longer than wide. Not sure what they are supposed to be like. Nor does it matter. Yes they are a lovely colour. The leaves varied a bit (from memory) - think I had both green and reddish leaves.

Fingers crossed for storing. And that extended chutney tasting session was obviously a success, but if it is going to be pressies, you can't be too careful, you have to make absolutely sure

[jayb]

Love these.
Re-visiting this thread to update-
I've some seedlings growing from seed saved from the selection above, I didn't think I had any seed left but when tidying out old seeds I came across a small packet. I'm chuffed to have a few of these growing again, not enough for seed saving so hopefully, it'll be yum yum in my tum!

And from last year I've got a selection of roots growing away and happily by the sweet smell. they are just starting to flower.

[Jang]

These do look a stunning colour, and from what you say, equally good to eat.

One to look out for. HSL sometimes offer Dewing's Early Blood Turnip. Do you know whether this is the same variety?

Good luck with your flowering beets. Sounds like you should get a good haul.

[jayb]

Oooh, now you've got me! I must admit I just assumed they were (doh!) It's hard to tell from the info available, on searching I can't even tell how many varieties had Dewing's in the title!

I guess maybe not then? Well in that case I have a very nice hybrid beetroot in the making, Early Blood Turnips x Dewing's Early Blood T.

[jayb]

Doing their thing -



I can't remember how long seeds take to ripen but I'm itchy fingers want to get some sown!

[jayb]

Lol, me being impatient, they are very green still and parts of the plants are still flowering. I would be very happy if I get mature seed in time to sow some in the poly-tunnel this year.

[triffid]

Oh exciting! When is your latest date for sowing beets?

[jayb]

I don't know a reliable last sow date for beetroot here, I would think it good for another month outdoors and a nice spot inside a bit later again. I've picked a few strands of seeds and although green they are fingernail pressure hard, I'm going to sow a few in a pot tomorrow. Some of the earlier set seeds seem quite a small size, perhaps indicates they are not great quality?

[jayb]

I decided to harvest the stems for seed a few days ago, thought it better to have some seed rather than none if the birds and beasties got stuck in.

As the plants were still a little green I hung the cut stems up for a couple of days outside to make the most of the sunshine and breeze, before being hung up in the shed.

I've sown a few seeds in modules, not sure if they should have been dried out first?

[Jang]

It will be a good test. At least with beet you’ll soon know whether you have success. Do let us know.

[jayb]

Seedlings are up

[Jang]

Great. They look fine and dandy. So now we know we can hurry beet seeds along a bit.

Did you take the beets up over winter and replant, or simply leave them in the ground?

[jayb]

The Early Bloods I overwinter inside and planted out in the polytunnel this spring. Although the Boltardy left out in their growing rows remained in good condition right through to spring, guess it depends on the winter and how many pesky things are about?

[Jang]

Yes, my beets get mightily gnawed if left in the ground very long, even at this time of year. The odd one escapes but nothing you can count on.