Sweet organic beets are an amazing winter crop for your raised bed garden that come in magenta, marigold, orange, and pink and white bull’s eye patterned varieties. Their shapes vary from round through cylindrical to tapered varieties. Plant organic seeds ½ inch deep at three inch intervals in a raised bed garden for an abundant crop that shades out most weeds and use a lightweight row cover over them in the winter to hold in the heat and moisture.

Soon the leafy green tops will appear. The greens are high in immune support and rich in vitamins A, B, and K and make especially tender greens that are mild and tasty like spinach. Beet tops can be picked as soon as several leaves per plant appear large enough. Cut a leaf or two with scissors from different plants an inch above the bulb, which still allows the beets roots to grow well. 

The tops of the beet root will emerge from the soil. When the beet root is about two or three inches in diameter, grab the leaf stalks just above the root and pull it out of the ground. Store the greens separately to use in salads, soups, and casseroles. After removing the leaves, do not wash the beet roots which will store a long time in the refrigerator. The beet root is a nutritional powerhouse, high in fiber, vitamin C, and folate; loaded with every metabolically important mineral; and containing 5 to 10 percent sugar. 

The beautiful color and sweet flavor of beets have been praised since Roman times. A wonderful blended beet soup can be made with potatoes, carrots, and onion. Beets are yummy in salads, like a delicious roasted beet, avocado, and beet greens salad with organic extra virgin olive oil and organic balsamic vinegar. Pickled beets are a great addition to any salad.  Another tasty treat is a beet dip made with a smoky sweet blend of roasted red peppers, toasted walnuts, pomegranate molasses and spices. Or make a richer and more moist chocolate cake by adding beets to the recipe. Add beets to your diet to lower blood pressure, fight inflammation, boost stamina, and support detoxification and grow organic beets in your garden for their lovely decorative leaves.