Beets

Customer Lyndsay Godley summed it up well with her 2008 order when she stated "Love your selection, Hope Seeds, but where's da beets?".  I couldn't go another season without listing at least a few of the most versatile, nutritious and historic root vegetables that we love.  Beets are easy to grow in our cool climate, so get your seed in the ground as soon as it can be worked.  Plant thickly and choose your thinnings for greens - a delightful Spring treat as baby greens raw in salads, taller tops later on are great steamed.  Once thinned, remaining plants will have space to grow their roots for summer and fall fresh eating, and winter storage.  Successive plantings will keep you stocked with baby greens, tops and roots throughout the season.  We keep our roots in potato barrels (although I've also used rubbermaid totes) packed in wood shavings, and stored in the cold cellar which stays just above freezing for most of the winter.

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EARLY WONDER TALL TOP (Tops, roots)                      Certified Organic 50-60 days roots. Our 2008 trials proved that Early Wonder lives up to its name!  Popularized around 1911, this variety was first to develop full-sized, smooth-skinned red roots last season.  Tops really were a few inches taller than Detroit at 16-18", making this variety a great choice for those that crave steamed greens in Spring. Product code: 2601-CO                               Price:   A=$2.75 (2g)     B=$5.00 (10g)     C=$10.00 (50g)

DETROIT DARK RED (Tops, roots)                                   Certified Organic 55-60 days roots. I'm sure that Detroit Dark Red has got to be the most common open-pollinated (OP) type of beets grown in Canadian gardens.  It has certainly been the mainstay of our winter storage and canning crop, with delicious and tender round red roots.  Tops are tasty too.  Heritage from 1892. Product code: 2602-CO                               Price:   A=$2.75 (2g)     B=$5.00 (10g)     C=$10.00 (50g)

BULL'S BLOOD  (Baby greens, tops)                                       Certified Organic 30 days baby leaf, 60 days roots. Bull's Blood is a great choice for those who want to diversify their selection of spring greens with a little splash of deep, burgundy red.  Now our restaurant clients are asking for this guy by name!  We planted Bull’s Blood late fall in our high tunnel and were amazed at the most vibrant, deep-maroon shiny leaves that tasted so sweet on a cold November’s eve.  Old heritage variety from about 1840, when beets were more commonly referred to as "blood turnips".   Product code: 2603-CO                               Price:   A=$2.75 (2g)     B=$5.00 (10g)