I really do love beets.  I love them from top to bottom.  The beet stems are great for green smoothies, salads, and a great substitution for swiss chard.  (More on Swiss Chard in another post)

The beets themselves are wonderfully sweet and taste a little like candy.  I served some up raw to some finicky kids and got a thumbs up.  I also like them cooked a little  - that makes them a little soft, but still nice and sweet.  A sweet vegetable.

So how do you know when they are ready to harvest - Joan shares how she know they are ready.  Once they poke their heads out and they get to the size of a quarter or 50 cent piece they are ready.  If they get bigger - they can crack and get a little woody.