Swati Dwivedi (35), a resident of Bengaluru has been fond of gardening since her childhood. So it’s only natural that even with her full-time job as a Human Resources professional, she pursues her hobby of growing plants in her backyard.
“Seeing how I grew over 200 plants at home, several people would ask for tips and advice. So, in 2017, I launched a YouTube channel to make explainer videos, and today, I have over 95,000 subscribers,” says Swati.
Recently, Swati made a short video on how you can grow beetroot at home, using the store-bought vegetable.
“Though it is a long process, one can use this method to grow organic vegetables at home and eat healthily,” says Swati, adding that it is a low-calorie vegetable that is known for promoting good health.
Recent studies claim that the cooked vegetable or its juice can improve blood flow, haemoglobin levels, and reduce blood pressure. However, to gain these benefits one must consume the organic vegetable that is not laced with chemicals.
Here’s how you can grow organic seeds from store-bought beetroots
Things you will need
1 Beetroot
1 Bowl
Water
Potting mix
1 Container
Process:
Step 1: Take a store-bought beetroot and remove the dry leaves from the top.
Step 2: Slice the top half along with the shoots and leaves.
Step 3: Place this half in a bowl or a shallow plate, and fill it with some water.
Note: Do not submerge the beetroot top as it may start rotting.
Step 4: Keep this on your kitchen counter or on a windowsill where it does not get direct sunlight.
Step 5: Within three or four days you will see fresh leaves growing from the beetroot.
Note: Replace and add fresh water every alternate day. By the 15th day, you will notice the leaves have grown bigger and you can transfer this to a pot with organic potting mix. Keep this under partial shade.
Step 6: Water the cutting well and allow it to grow for another three or four months, until the plant starts to produce flowers.
“These flowers and stems must be harvested and dried under the shade for a few days. From this, the seeds can be harvested and stored until the planting season in winters,” says Swati.
You can either grow your seeds or purchase some from a store.