Beta vulgaris L

[flowerpower]

So any type of beet will do for animal feed?

You can use red beets to dye Easter Eggs.

[mjc]

Pretty much...

[dirtsunrain]

(the guys might want to go check the sports scores right about now)

As a 45 yr old woman, staring down the barrel of menopause, I've been doing some research on diet and change of life. Beets are being touted as an aid to regulate estrogen levels. They have compounds that mimic natural estrogen and their high amount of fibre helps with hormonal balance.

I've always thought that PMS was just short form for Potential Murder Suspect. A combination of my autumnal bout of SAD and Menopause might be more than my friends, coworkers and Island law enforcement can handle. I have been increasing the amount of beets and other non-wig-out foods such as red cabbage, alfalfa, parsley, carrots and peppers. I love parsley tea. I supply the kale and a friend makes me a carrot kale blend with her juicer.

If you visit the Island, I'll be the blonde, slighty weepy lady chewing on the mangel.

[mnjrutherford]

Menopause is a BREEZE! Well, it was for me at least. I am SO glad that I no longer have to shell out hard earned cash for "feminine protection". What was it protecting me from to begin with? Of course, once it was all behind me I found a source of said "protection" which was reusable! ::rolls eyes:: Still, you'll find me skipping down the primrose path of crone-hood with a VERY broad smile upon my face. Pass the liver pate and eat scallops (or, take a sublingual 1000mg B-12). By the by, I turned 50 last summer. By the by the by, the more herbs (both quantity and variety) you consume, the more vitamin issues you address. Herbs are intense sources of basic food medicine and compliment a diet of fruit, veg, and fresh clean meat and diary.

[paquebot]

If there are any skeptics who would like to try some for either food or feed, let me know. I have fresh seed for both Mammoth Long Red and Golden Eckendorf. You would find the Mammoth Long Red to be much like Cylindra but sweeter. Golden Eckendorf would be very much like Burpee's Golden but sweeter. Like any other beet, they get tougher with age but do not lose their sugar. I can supply sample size for postage, about 40 seeds; or half-ounce 400+/- for $5. Quarter pounders also negotiable.

Martin

[mnjrutherford]

Are those sugar beets or table beets Martin? I want beets I can use to make sugar and to use as feed. If we can eat the greens (we like beet greens but not the roots) that would be great as well, but not as important as having the sugar and the feed.

If you think these will work for me, I'd like a quarter ounce of each if that would be possible.

[paquebot]

Mammoth Long Red and Golden Eckendorf are mangels. SSE rightfully includes them in the sugar beet section. Mangels are no longer grown for sugar production since there are various programs breeding new varieties with higher percentage of sugar. In addition to growing them for the table, I grow them for a friend's horses. Despite Golden Eckendorf supposedly being higher in sugar content, they prefer the red. Deer dearly love them both!

Can do with the quarter-ounce of each. On another farm-related forum I offer the half-ounce packets for $5 which covers all my costs with a buck left over for gas. Jung's gets $1.95 for half-ounce of the red and $2.75 for the gold. I'll fore-go the gas dollar just to keep your animals and yourself happy!

Martin

[bluelacedredhead]

Jan 13, 2010 9:32:53 GMT -5 paquebot said:

they get tougher with age but do not lose their sugar.
Martin

Martin, for a minute there, I thought you were speaking about the Post-Meanopausal Women on this forum.

;D

BTW, that's very Sweet of you to give Jo a deal. I'm sure she appreciates that.

[johno]

Martin, I'd like to get a sample size packet of the Golden Eckendorf. I'd be happy to send you some seeds along with the sase, or an extra buck for gas, or whatever you prefer. Thank you for the offer!

I cooked one of the Yellow Cylindras that the deer dug up a few days ago - cooked it on the woodstove in a cast iron pot, which surely helped with the toughness. I found it to be almost candy sweet, with only a hint of the earthy flavor I associate with beets. I loved it.

[mickey]

The red beets I grew only got to the size of golf balls and smaller and the after taste was like soil. If I remember right turnips had a bitter after taste to me. I do like parnips and Kohirabi so I was hoping to find a beet that I would like that's why I ask about sugar beets.
Mickey

[mnjrutherford]

Yep, Blue is right, I do appreciate the deal, Thanks! =o) This will be an interesting grow. Martin, do the beets like acid soil or sweet?

Mickey, "earthy" is pretty much the way I would describe the flavor of "regular" beets. Mine never got very big either but we ate the greens, which are "spinachy", rather than the roots so it didn't much matter to us. It'll be interesting to taste a sugar beet won't it?

[canadamike]

MJ, I would recommend this one for a dual purpose beet, sugar and tops

www.bountifulgardens.org/prodinfo.asp?number=VBE-2500

[mickey]

Thanks I found this on the web about them, So I don't know now if I'll try them. I was hoping to get away from the earthy taste.

perrone.blogs.com/horticultural/2007/10/a-beet-er-after.html

But I do thank you all other wise I wouldn't have known what to search for.

[paquebot]

Some Golden Eckendorf are packed and destined to begin their trip to Arkansas in the morning. And some of both will also be headed to North Carolina.

Beets and their kin like acidic soil. That is, pH range of about 5.5 to 6.5. They love my potato patch where I try to keep it around 6.0.

I love regular beet greens steamed and with a dash of vinegar. Same goes for mangel tops. But like regular beets, they are best when young. We used the leaf ribs in a few stir fry meals this past summer with the Golden Eckendorf and they were a decent substitute for chard. In fact, their leaves look exactly like a golden chard. I haven't tried the Mammoth Long Red like that yet but it's their turn for growing this year.

Mangels, like regular beets, are easily transplanted. In fact, the seed is often clusters and will germinate as multiples. Some of my customers actually start them in 144-hole plug trays so they don't have to thin.

Martin

[johno]

Thank you Martin! Let me know what I can do in return.