Wednesday, June 9, 2010

How to Grow Golden Beets

Golden Beets

Yeah, this blog is called The Food Librarian.
Doesn't mention my gardening skills.
So, here they are.
How to Grow Golden Beets

1. Go to the interwebs. Go to Seed Savers. Pick up a packet of Burpee's Golden Beets.

2. When they arrive, call your dad and ask him about his garden...talk up the fact that golden beets are sweeter than his usual planting of red beets. Um, I guess it would be helpful to mention that your dad should have a backyard garden. That is helpful in this process.

3. Give the seeds to your dad on HIS BIRTHDAY. Didn't you know that the most appropriate gift to give your dad on his 78th birthday is Golden Beet seeds?

4. Have you dad start seedlings in a pot. Check them daily. Keep the birds away. Transplant when ready.

5. Have your dad grow the beets until they are big enough for YOU to drive over and pick them. Yes, YOU have to do some work here! :)

Golden Beets
This photo is from April 2010 as the beets were coming up!

Golden Beets
Love me my gardener dad! Next time, I'll review how to grow cucumbers, China peas, heirloom tomatoes and other veggies. Yeah, shockingly, it'll be a pretty similar process. :)

Golden Beets
Fresh from the garden... I like to clean them up and roast them with other veggies, or steam them and slice them for a salad. Golden beets are great because they don't stain your hands like red beets and are sweeter. If you don't have a retired gardening papa, pick some up at the Farmer's Market! :)

Red & Golden Beet Salad with Goat Cheese (Food Librarian)
My dad's golden and red beets! Yummmmmmmy!

22 comments:

  1. deannaJune 9, 2010 at 8:54 AM

    Aweee your dad is so cute!!!

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  2. JelliDonutJune 9, 2010 at 8:57 AM

    Beautiful!

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  3. AudreyJune 9, 2010 at 9:11 AM

    nice looking beets and nice looking dad! The extent of my gardening is once growing one red pepper in a pot (and some windowsill herbs)...
    I've never roasted beets, but they look delicious, so I'm inspired to try.

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  4. CarolineJune 9, 2010 at 9:15 AM

    Love your gardening tips, ;) I have to rely on farmers' market right now due to lack of yard and WOW, your dad is 78!?!

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  5. EdanaJune 9, 2010 at 9:25 AM

    Those are so pretty! I would love to make a beet salad with both red and golden beets, mmm...now I just have to find a farmer's market!

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  6. kirbieJune 9, 2010 at 10:52 AM

    Haha. You are so funny! Wonderful tips ;-)

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  7. MaryJune 9, 2010 at 12:54 PM

    Your dad is such a cutie! I want golden beets, right now!
    I have a similar thing with orchids...I have them for a few months, they die, and then instead of learning how to bring them back, I sent them to my mom's house at the Cape and she mysteriously brings them back to bloom, and then drives them back to me :).

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  8. UnknownJune 9, 2010 at 2:54 PM

    Your dad is adorable! I have never had a beet - crazy, right??

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  9. Sarah @ Mum In BloomJune 9, 2010 at 5:25 PM

    Love that photo of your Dad :) Those golden beets look delish and you give some good tips, eh? The last photo is so beautiful.

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  10. ErinJune 9, 2010 at 5:30 PM

    Those are the same beets that I bought and planted in my garden. Hopefully, they will look just as good as your dad's :)

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  11. DaveryJune 9, 2010 at 6:44 PM

    The beets are gorgeous! I love me some beets but sadly don't have enough direct sunlight to grow them (and I forget to water). Can wait for the golden beet salad recipe!

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  12. AnonymousJune 9, 2010 at 7:11 PM

    you have the cutest dad ever! such pretty beets too!

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  13. UnknownJune 10, 2010 at 4:52 AM

    Your dad might be the cutest gardner I've ever seen!

    The beets look great, too.

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  14. UnknownJune 10, 2010 at 8:05 AM

    Lucky girl, with such a sweet, helpful, gardening Dad. (Does he have his own blog yet??)

    I love beets, and found some that were pink and white at the market last summer. No joke. They were as highly contrasting (and as pretty) as your Valentine's jello dessert...They tasted nice and sweet, too, which is a good thing since I have no access to jello here in the south of France (sniff). Again, no joke.

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  15. JennieJune 10, 2010 at 1:17 PM

    Your dad is so cute and you're so lucky to have access to his beautiful garden. I am in awe of anyone who has a green thumb. I love beets and am going to have to add it to my list for the next farmer's market!

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  16. Mr. PJune 10, 2010 at 3:24 PM

    There's no way that your Dad is 78. Lying is a bad habit, Mary.

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  17. KatrinaJune 11, 2010 at 6:55 AM

    What a cute post, Mary. Love the picture with your dad. I garden just about the same way. ;) But we just bought a house on 1 acre and I intend to learn "real" gardening. I love beets, too!

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  18. shazJune 11, 2010 at 7:45 AM

    Great gardening tips ;) Go Mary's Dad!

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  19. KatieJune 12, 2010 at 6:29 AM

    They look fabulous! Such a striking colour

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  20. TalitaJune 14, 2010 at 3:45 PM

    What a nice smile! I've never seen golden beets before.

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  21. ElianaJune 16, 2010 at 4:58 PM

    How cute is your dad! The beets look wonderful too.

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  22. eatme_deliciousJune 17, 2010 at 10:16 PM

    Aw your dad is so cute!!! And I'm most jealous of those beets.

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