Last Updated on April 3, 2024 by Real Men Sow
To grow beetroots you need to ensure an open, moist, and sunny environment. Beetroots can be grown in containers with well-prepared soil. Adding organic matter or vermiculite to your soil can give a massive boost to your soil quality.
There is a large variety of beetroots, so as a beginner, you should grow bolt-resistant varieties. They’re less likely to produce flowering stems.
When To Sow Beetroots
Mid-spring until Mid-summer is the best time to sow beetroot seeds outdoors, as it is one of the easy vegetables to sow in warm weather. Sowing them weeks earlier, however, it should be covered and only allowed to be put outside once the temperature outside has improved.
How to Grow Beetroot Seed
Mark out beetroot seed drills in your prepared soil using a long-handled tool, shorter rows can be made with a hand trowel. The drills should be 2cm deep and 30cm apart. Beetroot seeds are quite big because it’s clumps of individual seeds, so expect to get several sprouts from one seed. The seed placement should be 2cm – 5cm apart. Cover the seeds and pat the soil back down. Make sure you labeled the rows.
Grow Beetroots in module trays
Growing them in module trays gives you convenience in moving them to bigger pots. You’ll need to sow 2 – 3 seeds in each cell. Cover it with potting soil and water. It’s important to keep the soil moist for the germination process.
How to Care for the Plants
Seedlings that are module-grown are to be planted 20cm – 25cm apart from each other in each direction. Meanwhile those seedlings that are direct-sown are to be thinned in stages until they’re 10cm apart within the row. During dry weather, your plant must be watered. If you see weeds, carefully remove them.
How to Harvest Beetroots
Beetroots are good to be harvested once they’re at the size of a golf ball to a tennis ball. Harvesting them needs you to gather the base of its stems and twist the root out of the soul. You may also use a fork to dig them out. Their leaves can be twisted off and cooked or can go straight to your compost heap. Store your harvested roots in boxes of sand in a cool but not freezing location.
Don’t forget to share your experiences in growing your own beetroot in the comments below!