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How to Grow Beetroot
Beetroot is a delicious and nutritious vegetable that is easy to grow in your own garden. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Sowing Beetroot Seeds
- Sow beetroot seeds outdoors from mid-April to late June.
- Plant the seeds 10cm apart, with 30cm between rows.
- Water the seeds regularly and keep the area weed-free.
Planting Beetroot Seedlings
- You can also buy beetroot plug plants or sow seeds into modular trays and transplant the seedlings later.
- When transplanting seedlings, plant them at the same depth they were growing in the tray and space them 10cm apart.
- Water the seedlings thoroughly and keep them moist until they are established.
Caring for Beetroot Plants
- Water beetroot plants regularly, especially during dry spells.
- Thin out the seedlings to leave one plant every 10cm for larger roots, or keep them closer together for smaller roots.
- Hoe around the plants to keep the weeds down.
Harvesting Beetroot
- Beetroot is ready to harvest 8-10 weeks after sowing.
- Grasp the foliage firmly and pull up the roots.
- Harvest beetroot when they are the size of a golf ball or smaller for a sweeter taste.
- Store undamaged beetroot in a cool, dark place.
Cooking and Eating Beetroot
- Beetroot can be boiled, roasted, or pickled.
- It can also be eaten raw, grated into salads.
- The leaves of beetroot can also be eaten, either cooked or raw.
Troubleshooting
- If your beetroot plants are attacked by slugs or snails, you can apply biological-control nematodes or grow the crop in a container out of their reach.
- If birds are a problem, you can cover the seedlings with fleece or netting.
- If your beetroot roots become woody, you may not be watering them enough.
