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<\/p>\nBeets instead of birds today.<\/p>\n
I had every intention of going on a long birding trip this morning but last night at 11:03 fireworks shook the neighborhood and rattled my teeth – awakening me from a deep sleep. It seemed like an eternity before I dropped off again, so rather than risk life and limb driving for seven hours with insufficient sleep, I’m resorting to plan B. Which involves gardening and one of my favorite vegetables.<\/p>\n
Are you a beet fan? I am, but not the red ones. It’s been something like 28 years since I’ve planted red beets because their flavor is a little too bold and earthy for me and I don’t like the ‘bloody’ mess they make when I’m peeling and preparing them. My kitchen ends up looking like a massacre site and my red-stained fingers and hands look incriminating.<\/p>\n
I much prefer golden beets and since many of my readers have vegetable gardens I decided to promote golden beets in today’s post.<\/p>\n
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This is the more shaded part of my garden where I plant the ‘early stuff’ that doesn’t require as much sunlight. That’s two rows of golden beets in the center. I’ve been eagerly anticipating my first beet harvest, which finally happened last evening.<\/p>\n
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Beets should be harvested when they’re between the size of golf balls and tennis balls. These are on the small side, only slightly larger than golf balls, but I could wait no longer. Roasted golden beets were part of my dinner last night. And yes, beet greens are perfectly edible. These greens are washed and in my refrigerator.<\/p>\n
Before they’re peeled, golden beets look almost as red as red beets but peeling transforms them into…<\/p>\n
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golden orbs that are delicious when roasted and sliced and served with butter and salt and pepper.<\/p>\n
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Golden beets versus red beets:<\/p>\n
And no, it isn’t too late to plant beets (either variety) for harvest this year.<\/p>\n
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I just planted my second crop of golden beets three days ago – two rows of them. They’re under the ‘bird protectors’ near the bottom of the frame. My second crop of green onions, under the bird protector on the left, was planted the same day. When seedlings are tiny and tender I have to protect them from birds but by the time they’re 2-3″ tall I can safely remove the protectors.<\/p>\n
Golden beets reach maturity at approximately 55 days so I’ll begin harvesting my second crop in early September. Some of my friends and I will be eating my first crop between now and then.<\/p>\n
So what are you waiting for? If not this year, there’s always next year.<\/p>\n
Ron<\/p>\n
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Note: <\/em><\/p>\n That yellow thing you see near the top of the frame in photo #1 is my “pocket gopher eliminator”. It’s a battery powered gizmo that emits a fairly soft buzzing sound every 15 seconds that pocket gophers simply cannot stand. Whenever I see a pocket gopher entrance hole, I bury one end of the eliminator in the ground near the hole and I never see pocket gopher activity in that area again. They simply abandon the area and go elsewhere. My neighbors may not appreciate it but I do. Works every time.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Beets instead of birds today. (4 photos)<\/p>\n