Beets at Carter's Red Wagon Farm are harvested around the middle of July until the first hard frost (usually the middle of September, sometimes as late as October). The majority of beets sold during July and August are as beet greens -- smaller beets at the end of large, leafy greens. The greens themselves have many different uses as they, too, are full of nutrition. Larger beets, sold by the pound with the greens chopped off, become available by late August, early September.
Did you know?
Late beets can be stored successfully during the winter under proper conditions. However they keep best at temps around freezing, and the temps should never exceed 40 F. Also they must be kept moist, with little air circulation. These conditions require a special storage room in the cellar or an outside storage room, or if neither is available an outside storage pit. The maximum storage period is 4-5 months.
Beets have been cultivated since pre-historic times in the Mediterranean area and were originally grown only for their leaves. During the Roman empire, people began to eat the roots as well. Today, beets and beet dishes are still widely popular throughout Europe.
Beets are a good source of folacin and a source of Vitamin C and potassium. Red beets provide Vitamins A and C, calcium and iron, and add fiber to the diet.
According to John Heinerman Ph.D. in Encyclopedia on Healing Juices, beets (& beet juice) are blood-building herb that detoxifies blood & renews it with minerals & natural sugars. This encyclopedia goes on to note that there may be substances in beets that aid circulation.
Dr. H.C.A. Vogel, in The Nature Doctor, states that beet juice contains betaine, which stimulates function of liver cells & protects our liver & bile ducts.
Norman Walker, D.Sc. in Fresh Vegetables and Fruit Juices, claims that beets build red corpuscles & add tone to blood.
An article in February 25,1996, issue of Cancer Letters report on an animal study that shows that beetroot has a significant tumor-inhibiting effect. The abstract for the study says, "The combined findings suggest that beet root ingestion can be one of the useful means to prevent cancer."
Late beets can be stored successfully during the winter under proper conditions. However they keep best at temps around freezing, and the temps should never exceed 40 F. Also they must be kept moist, with little air circulation. These conditions require a special storage room in the cellar or an outside storage room, or if neither is available an outside storage pit. The maximum storage period is 4-5 months.
Beets have been cultivated since pre-historic times in the Mediterranean area and were originally grown only for their leaves. During the Roman empire, people began to eat the roots as well. Today, beets and beet dishes are still widely popular throughout Europe.
Beets are a good source of folacin and a source of Vitamin C and potassium. Red beets provide Vitamins A and C, calcium and iron, and add fiber to the diet.
According to John Heinerman Ph.D. in Encyclopedia on Healing Juices, beets (& beet juice) are blood-building herb that detoxifies blood & renews it with minerals & natural sugars. This encyclopedia goes on to note that there may be substances in beets that aid circulation.
Dr. H.C.A. Vogel, in The Nature Doctor, states that beet juice contains betaine, which stimulates function of liver cells & protects our liver & bile ducts.
Norman Walker, D.Sc. in Fresh Vegetables and Fruit Juices, claims that beets build red corpuscles & add tone to blood.
An article in February 25,1996, issue of Cancer Letters report on an animal study that shows that beetroot has a significant tumor-inhibiting effect. The abstract for the study says, "The combined findings suggest that beet root ingestion can be one of the useful means to prevent cancer."