I am very fond of beetroot wine. These last two years, we have been
unsuccessful in growing enough to make even one gallon. I hear that
beetroots are commonly available at horse feedlot outlets, as they are
a favorite food of horses. I have no horse experience, and would like
to hear from anyone who has an opinion as to whether this source of
beets would be fit for winemaking.

May your grapes be bulging

Sean

Sean
I think I'd be more inclined to buy some beets at a farmer's
market, or even the local grocery store. I don't know about feeding
horses, but I believe that there are different varieties of beets used
to produce sugar, that don't look (or taste) much like those we're
used to. Beets are pretty darned easy to grow, however -- we've grown
them off and on for 20 years or more. They only need about 60 days or
so, I think - a lot shorter season than most vegetables. And they are
not especially susceptible to pests, as far as I've found. About the
only annoying aspect is the need to thin them after germination,
because of the compound seeds -- you plant one, and four or five
little beet plants germinate. But after that, they're really pretty
foolproof. Sunlight and occasional watering - they are not fussy
about soil conditions, either. But if they don't work for you, buy
some. I have to think that beets intended for human consumption would
tend to have better color and flavor than beets grown for livestock
fodder.

Doug