I,m growing sugar beets for stock and was wondering if anyone has experience with eating young ones. I remember my Mom saying they ate them during the war.Just curious. Ray

-- raymond (rorlgray@graytv.com), June 29, 2001

Answers

Hey Ray: don't know about the beets-however, think about eating the leaves. Pick some medium sized leaves, wash well in cold water. Steam for a few minutes, over, not in, boiling water. Remove to a bowl or serving dish. Sprinkle w. salt and pepper. Dress with a dollop of butter. WoW! Whatta dish. It's as good as, or better than, fresh spinach. (Oh, oh..I'm assuming you do like spinach!?!). And, yes, these are a rich source of iron. Stef

-- stef (sbrogers@csonline.net), June 29, 2001.

hi raymond, I am growing some also and looking at the need to thin.....I can't imagine they could hurt us so I am going to cook the thinnings just like I would regular beet thinnings. If they aren't any good they will go to the chickens and I haven't lost anything except a little time.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), June 30, 2001.

Beets is beets. They may not have the same taste as beetroot or mangolds/mangels, but they're close relatives. And as said - don't forget the leaves - related to silver beet/swiss chard, I eat beetroot leaves as well, and if you're eating these young they should be extra tender. Steam them, sprinkle of lemon or lime juice - yum.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), July 01, 2001.

I was told that it is good to mix a few sugar beets into the pot of regular ones to sweeten the batch, but I haven't had any to try it with. Post back how good they are!!

-- Thumper (slrldr@aol.com), July 03, 2001.