2019-05-01_Healthy_Food_Guide_UK

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HOME-GROWNADVICEFROMJENNIFERIRVINE

PART

FOUR

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Keencookand

healthymeal

deliveryservice

ownerJenniferis a

year-roundgardener.

Inthismonth’s

columnabout

growingyourown,

shesharesadvice

forgrowingand

servingbeetroot

HOWTOGETSTARTED

Preparation

First,removeallweedsfrom

theground.Digoverthesite

toclearlargestonesand

levelthesoilwitha rake.If

youhavetime,spreadsome

generalfertiliseroverthe

bedtwotothreeweeks

beforesowing.I liketouse

a mixtureofcompostthat

hascomefrommychickens,

butstandardbagsfromyour

localgardencentrewillalso

dothetrick.I’veevensown

beetrootwithoutcompost

andit stilldoesfine.

Sowing

Sowtheseedsdirectlyinto

thesoilbetweenApriland

July.Makea 2cm(¾in)deep

trench,wateranddropina

fewseedsevery10cm(4in).

Cover,waterwellandlabel

thebed.Whentheseedlings

MAY

F

ORME,THENOVELTY

OFGROWINGplants

fromseedneverfades.

Andbeetroot– aneasyto

growyetvibrantvegetable

• remainsoneofmy
  favourites.Itsbumpy,brown
  seedsarenotparticularly
  pretty,butboydoesit
  producea dazzlingdisplay
  afteritsthree-monthsleep
  inthesoil.Beetroot’srich
  colours,succulentstemsand
  elegantleavesmakeit not
  onlya deliciousaddition
  tothevegetablepatch,but
  a stylishone,too.
  Beetrootfavoursmoist,
  fertilesoil,ideallyina sunny
  spot.However,it willalso
  thriveinraisedbedsorpots,
  whichis greatif you’reshort
  ofgardenspace.Nowis a
  goodtimeofyeartostart
  sowingyourbeetrootseeds,
  butif winteris likelytobe
  especiallymild,youcanwait
  andstillsowthemverylate
  intheseason.

begin to show and are about

2cm (¾in) high, remove the

weakest of each group to

leave one beetroot seedling

every 10cm (4in). Yes, it’s like

picking your favourite, but

it’s necessary to produce

the biggest and brightest

roots. If you feel bad, you

can use the seedlings you

pull out to top a salad – but

these young leaves are really

rich in nutrients.

Harvesting

Depending on the variety,

beetroot is ready to be

picked when the roots are

between the size of a golf

ball and a tennis ball – about

90 days after sowing. Gently

hold on to the tops and lift

while levering them from

underneath with a hand fork.

But it’s also robust enough

to be left until wanted –

I sometimes leave mine in

the ground for many months

until the following spring

before I eat it.

TAKE YOUR PICK

Beetroot packs a colourful

punch at mealtimes and

there are many varieties to

choose from – not just the

traditional purple. When it’s

prepared with a bit of love,

it can produce a display

worthy of Willy Wonka.

‘Chioggia’ has beautiful

Gardening

14 HEALTHY FOOD GUIDE MAY 2019