Should I thin these? How do I do that without hurting the plants I want to leave in the ground? What can I do with the beet tops? I've heard that people eat them, but I have no idea what to do ...

Beets are one of the sweetest vegetables around, with even more sugar than carrots or sweet corn. You can find gold, white and striped varieties, but the most common is the red-purple beet.

I can think of nothing more virtuous than raw beets. In fact, I avoided them for years under the mistaken impression that something so appallingly healthy couldn't possibly taste good.

This combination can also be served in salad form by slicing the beets into matchsticks and tossing with greens, pistachio-mint pesto and goat cheese.

2. Combine the orange juice, lemon juice and olive oil. Toss with the beets and herbs. Season to taste with salt. Line a salad bowl or platter with romaine lettuce leaves, top with the grated ...