Meet my only beet.

In early May, after I planted my snap peas and carrots, I decided to sow alternating rows of argula and beets in the back of the Bummer Bed.

The arugula sprouted first. It thrived in the spring sunshine. Soon the boyfriend and I were eating the peppery leaves in a simple basalmic viniagrette.

I searched the bed daily for the teeny red and green beet seedlings promised by my Seed Savers packet, but all I found was a black ant or two.

After three weeks, I noticed a few brave beet pioneers poking out of the soil. Though the rows were sparse, I now knew the seed was good.

However, when I checked on the bed a day later, only the arugula remained.

No tiny beet stems, no tiny beet leaves, no half open tiny beet seeds — The rows were empty as if each seedling had been expertly and systematically plucked from the ground.

Weird.

More black ants scurried between the rows carrying bits of compost and mulch. I stood up frustrated, then I noticed the gigantic new ant hill at the foot of the Bummer Bed.

Could these ants be smart enough to unplant my beet seeds? Maybe… But who or what was eating the seedlings? Rabbits? Squirrels? Birds?

Only one beet survived and it wasn’t spilling any secrets.

After the arugula bolted, I dug up the bed and planted three more rows of beets. Since the end of May, seedlings appear then quickly disappear. A few survivors hide in the straw, but I have a feeling their days are also numbered.

Anyone have a clue to solving this mystery?

Right now, this whole Bummer Bed “beets” the heck outta me.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 29th, 2006 at 12:17 am and is filed under Beets, Carrots + Root veggies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.