• 45

Cultivated for swollen roots.

Space plants: 20 - 30 cm apart Compatible with (can grow beside): Onions, Silverbeet (Swiss Chard), Lettuce, Cabbage, Dwarf Beans, Dill, Peas. Strawberries Avoid growing close to: Asparagus, Carrots, Sweetcorn, Spinach Soak seeds in water 24 hours before planting so that you can separate the seeds. Thinning is nearly always required as seedlings emerge from a seedball of several seeds. If you don't thin them, you will get a number of rather pathetic plants which don't grow to an edible size. Harvest in 55 - 70 days but will keep in ground for longer. Keep well-watered as dry beetroot develop a woody and inedible core. Tip from the Italian Gardener ' Make sure the top of the beet's bulb is covered with soil; this keeps the entire bulb the same color and prevents 'corkiness' at the top of the bulb.“ For tasty and tender beetroot, start harvesting at golfball-size. Culinary hints - cooking and eating Beetroot Apart from boiling whole for salads, beetroot roast well, cut in wedges. They also make a tasty salad grated raw with carrot and a little fresh orange juice.