Edible garden: Beetroot
5:00 AM Tuesday Sep 20, 2011
Fresh beetroot juice mixed with carrot, orange and ginger is a great spring detox drink. Photo / Supplied
How to grow it:
Beetroot is a classic Kiwi addition to a burger, so giving it a go in the vege garden would be the patriotic thing to do in this month of rugby mania.
Beetroot suit being planted after a heavy feeding crop such as cabbage.
Dig the soil, add a little compost and incorporate well.
If your soil is nice and fine, you can sow seed direct about 2cm apart in rows 25cm apart (after soaking for a couple of hours to soften their corky exterior) and cover with 1cm soil.
Thin when the seedlings have germinated to a final spacing of around 10-15cm.
Mulch seedlings with straw, and water well, but not too often.
If you have problems with the root not forming, boron deficiency could be the culprit.
In the kitchen:
Try beetroot juice with carrot and orange and a little ginger as a great spring detox drink after your late nights out.