chiogga beets

It seems that ]my Chiogga beets are different every year.

Three years ago (first year I grew them) they were very red and I could just barely see the striping and they tasted fantastic. Then the next year, they were tough and woody and pale. Now this year, they are striped like candy canes! And they taste great. They must be sensitive to the weather and/or my soil.

harvests: basil, onions and beets

vegetables for vacation

I made a couple of really nice vegetable dishes on vacation for a big family gathering. Above are some pretty beets. A mix of all three varieties I am growing: Chiogga, Lutz and White Detroit. I also made a big dish of fava beans (podded, sauteed, and mixed with sauteed corn and carrots) and a couple big dishes of summer squash (saute sliced Vidalia onions, then add sliced squash and saute til done).

beets are sizing up

I planted them close this year in clumps of 2-4 and they are pushing apart now. These are White Detroit.

beet plants

I left my beets in clumps of 3 or 4 plants this year as I heard that they grow nicely like this. The beets push apart as they grow.