Beet U-Pick Orchards or farms in Massachusetts in 2024, by area of state
Keep in mind, not all areas of a state have beets farms that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!
These are the areas of the state that have beet orchards to pick beets. Click on the area closet you!
Beets
Beets Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
(a.k.a, "Beetroots")
When are fresh beets available?
Beets are a warm weather crop, and seeds won't germinante in cold soil, although once growing, they can handle cold
and even light frosts. It takes them about 55 to 70 days from seed to
harvest.
In the U.S. beets typically peak in harvesting from June through October in the South,
and in July to September in the North. But they can be ready as early as
early June in many places, if the weather is good.
Before you leave to go to the farm:
-
Always call before you go to the farm - it's hard to pick in a muddy field!
-
Most growers furnish picking containers designed for beets, but they
may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to
bring containers.
-
Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can
work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the
sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring
along if it has been rainy.
Tips on How to Pick Beets
Whether you pick
beets from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here
are a few tips to keep in mind.
-
Harvest beets when they are 1-1/4 to 2 inches in diameter. Small beets have a sweeter taste.
-
The smaller younger leaves (beet tops) can also be eaten as greens. Some folks steam the leaves and putter butter on them. Others use the
smallest leaves in a fresh salad! The leaves should be 1.5 to 6 inches long.
- The beets should be
firm not soft or mushy
- And red (not yellowish - unless you're picking yellow beets!
- Try to avoid beets with bug damage to the beet itself, or animal
gnaw marks!
- Avoid placing the picked beets in the sunlight
any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree
or shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as
possible after picking. I prefer to bring a cooler with ice in it. Beets may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days
When you get home
- Cut the tops off, leaving about 2 inches of stem attached to the beet to keep the beet from "bleeding".
- Put them in the vegetable crisper in the fridge, in a loose plastic bag.
- They will be good for about a week like that.
Beet recipes and home canning
Now, get ready to can or freeze the extra beets - It is VERY easy!
Click on the links for easy instructions.
- How to can beets
- How to make pickled beets
- How to freeze beets
Beet nutritional facts
- There are 43 calories in 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of beets.
- Raw beetroots are 88% water, 10% carbohydrates, 2% protein, and less than 1% fat.
- Beet tops may be cooked and eaten, as they are an excellent source of vitamin A, iron, and betacarotene.
- Beets are a great source of fiber, folate, and potassium, which makes them especially good for pregnant women..
- Beets contain antioxidants, called betalains, carotenoids, and flavonoids, which prevent colon cancer and heart disease.
Weird beet facts
- The scientific name for beets is Beta vulgaris.
- Beets are naturally very high in sugar
- Sugar made from beets took a large chunk of the sugar market away from sugar cane, since beets can be grown almost anywhere.
- Beet seeds are actually dried beet fruits, like a raison and each containing a half dozen or more seeds! When you plant them, spread them
out!
- Ancient text from 800 B.C. mentioned beets growing in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the wonders of the ancient world.
- Beet juice has been used as red dye since the 16th century.
- Thomas Jefferson planted beets at Monticello.
- Medieval cooks stuffed beets into pies.
- In the TV show, The Office character, the character Dwight Schrute, owns a beet farm.
- Some cultures believe that if a man and woman eat from the same beet, they will fall in love.
- Beets are a traditional food at Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
- Beets are commonly red, but there are golden beets which are also are sweet, but do not stain surfaces like red beets do.
- Beets are in the same family as Swiss chard.
- The Victorians dyed their hair with beet juice in 19th century England.
- Beet juice stains so well, you can dye your Easter eggs pink using cooked beet juice/water and some vinegar
- Beets should be trimmed or peeled after cooking because the peel holds in the important nutrients.
- You don't need to buy "Superbeet" junk pills sold on TV. Just eat beets, instead!
Looking for canning equipment and supplies?
Water bath canner with a jar rack
Electric pressure canner
Pressure canners for gas, electric and induction stoves:
Presto 23Qt or
T-fal 22Qt
Canning scoop (this one is PERFECT)
Ball Blue book (most recent version)
Jars: 8oz canning jars for jams
Lids: Regular canning lids
Wide mouth canning lids
Find Other types of farms:
Easter egg hunts
Children's consignment sales
Farm markets and roadside stands
Road trips and camping resources
Local Honey, apiaries, beekeepers
Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
Consumer fraud and scams information
Home canning supplies at the best prices on the internet!
Maple Syrup Farms, sugarworks, maple syrup festivals
Environmental information and resources
Farms For Your Event for birthday parties, weddings, receptions, business meetings, retreats, etc.
Festivals - local fruit and vegetable festivals
Pumpkin patches and corn mazes
Christmas Tree Farms and lots
Get the
most recent version of
the Ball Blue Book
With this Presto 23 quart pressure canner and pressure cooker, you can "can" everything, fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies, salsa, applesauce, pickles, even meats, soups, stews. Model 01781
You can make jams, jellies, can fruit, applesauce, salsa and pickles with water bath canners, like this Granite Ware 12-Piece Canner Kit, Jar Rack, Blancher, Colander and 5 piece Canning Tool Set