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As winter approaching , there ’s sometimes a rush to get all your vegetable harvest and stack away in time . Produce give out in the garden during winter can rot or develop Robert Lee Frost damage apace , but is that true of all vegetable ? Some nurseryman prefer to get out beets , as well as other vegetables , in the garden through wintertime . Is this a wise decisiveness ? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of overwinter your beets like this ? Here ’s everything you call for to know about how to store beets for the winter .
Can you leave beets in the ground over winter?
Yes , beets can stay underground through winter . Several otherroot vegetable plants , including Pastinaca sativa , turnip , and carrots , can also be leave underground . In most cases , they will last just ok without significant damage . However , there ’s still a slight risk of rot or frost damage . Leaving Beta vulgaris underground during winter , also known as overwintering , is best suit for vegetables planted in the crepuscle .
Beets planted before August will in all likelihood be quick for harvesting before wintertime , and wo n’t do good as much from overwintering . If you ’re growing common beet for the greens , you should reap them before winter . The foliage typically die back or are heavily damaged during winter . The benefits of overwintering Beta vulgaris are only for the root veggie itself .
What are the benefits of overwintering beets?
There are a few different reasons why overwintering beet is a good idea . For starter , it extends the grow season , which also extends your harvest time . Rather than relying solely on vegetables that you stored yourself , or supplementing with store - bought vegetables , you could have a fresh harvest home of Beta vulgaris throughout winter and the start of spring .
The second reason to consider overwintering your beet is that it can better their flavor . Beets that have n’t been overwintered are delicious and versatile , but Beta vulgaris that remain in the background through wintertime become significantly sweeter . This is due to a process called gelidity - sweetener . Other stem vegetables , such as carrots and Brassica rapa , can undergo the same process . When the temperature drops nigher to freeze , the plant life begins converting starch into sugars . This help keep the plant from freezing , but it also lead in sweeter , crunchier beets .
When should you not overwinter beets?
Although overwintering beets can be fun and beneficial , it is n’t for everyone . Overwintering beets works best in mild to moderate winter , with temperatures at or above 30 degree Fahrenheit . Climates with more spartan temperature , specially places where the thermometer on a regular basis drops below 25 degrees Fahrenheit , are more likely to see discredited beets . bring alayer of mulchcan assistance passably , but it still is n’t enough to protect the beets alone from temperatures below 25 degree Fahrenheit .
On the other hand , regions that see slight to no decrease in temperature during winter have the opposite problem . you’re able to leave your beets underground during winter without proceeds . However , you are n’t probable to see any chill - enhancement . You may be able to artificially induce chill - sweetening by placing potted beet plants into a refrigerator or Deepfreeze . However , keep in creative thinker that potted common beet have less soil to insulate them , so they ’re at a high endangerment of Robert Frost damage .
Are beets annuals?
you may typically grow beets between zones 2 and 10 . To be specific , beetroot are biennials , which is to say that they complete their aliveness cycle every two years . Most of the time , home gardener will produce beets as yearly and glean them within the farm season . If you live in climate geographical zone 9 or warm , you’re able to grow beets over wintertime without taking any thrifty bar . That ’s to say , you ’ll be capable to enjoy beets ( and their common ) all yr round . Gardeners in these warm regions can even plant beets by mid or late declination for a delicious wintertime harvest .
When should you harvest your overwintered beets?
When it come to choose a harvest fourth dimension for your overwintered beet , there are several matter to look at . To commence , if your wintertime temperatures remain in the XXX and do n’t drop below 25 degrees Fahrenheit for more than a day or two in a row , you may harvest your beets at any time you like . you could even leave them until spring ! However , when the temperatures begin to warm up , look on your Beta vulgaris plant for signs of new leaf development . Once it begins grow more leafage , the beet itself can dry out out and harden , build it unpleasant to eat .
If you live in acolder climate zona , you should glean your beet before the temperatures pretermit below 25 degrees Fahrenheit systematically . Keep an eye on your local weather forecast . If you see a toilsome freezing in the cheeseparing future , you should bring your beets in to head off potentialcold or frost legal injury . However , you could still get the benefit of iciness - sweetening from a fond overwintering .
Now that all your questions about overwinter your beets have been answer , you’re able to enjoy all the nipping , odorous beets you’re able to tally in your garden ! winter beets is promiscuous , especially if you have mildly cold wintertime . Although it can seem intimidating to let your Beta vulgaris bide out in the cold , you ’ll benefit quite a routine from it . Just call back to keep an eye on the weather , and make for them in if it come too cold .
Christina Rumpf / Unsplash
