Too late to save my beetroot?

[becks77]

OK so been away from Ish and the garden for a while, but my question is this is it too late to dig up the beet or will it be hopelessly horrid, leeks too theyve bolted but I read somewhere to cut the woody middles out and still use them?
Any thoughts please

[marshlander]

Although bolted leeks are edible the flavour isn't so nice and can be bitter.

[MKG]

It's a definite maybe on the beets. They'll stand some frost - but we've had really deep frosts lately. The best thing to do is dig some and try them. They'll probably be woody and they'll have lost their sweetness, but you ain't going to know that until you try.

Borscht might be a good idea

Mike

[becks77]

Yep think you may be right Mike, thank you.
Gots me a headlamp so digging in the dark tonight me thinks:)

[julie_lanteri]

I haven't tried it myself but I've read in several books that if they've gone woody, you can leave them in the ground to harvest fresh leaves in the spring. Anybody has tried it? Is it worth it or better to pull them out and move on?

[Millymollymandy]

I've still got tons in the ground but I think our little mini freeze is only 2 days so hopefully they will still be OK. I have pickled loads and made cakes with loads which are in the freezer, so was a bit out of ideas as to what to do with the rest! It'll have to be chunky borscht when I can find a suitable recipe.

[marshlander]

Lots of variations on beetroot soup and some other ideas;- http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/recipes/beetroot

[prison break fan]

I dug some beetroot on Sunday and they cooked fine, tasted good, so have a go! pbf.

[Millymollymandy]

Thanks for that link - lots of good recipes there!

[becks77]

Dug up the beetroot, going to roast some I think see how we get on, obviously it was a bad time for leeks in my garden the y look more like spring onions not a decent one to be had oh well theres always next year...roll on spring

[Millymollymandy]

My beetroot was fine and I made chunky soup which I sort of made up after reading various different recipes. Still got tons in the ground! Think I'll try some chutney next.

My leeks are rather pathetic this year too, Becks!