Beetroot sowing and seed, beetroot care and cultivation

Growing Beetroot
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Soil and Site for Beetroot
Beetroot's ideal soil is medium to light, although a heavy but well-dug soil will also be OK. What it definitely does not like is a soil which has recently been manured - this will cause the roots to be mis-shapen. The soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline ('pH' 6.5 to 7.5) although it is tolerant of most normal conditions.

Either use a site which was well-prepared for a previous crop (such as peas, beans, onions or celery) or dig the soil well the previous autumn and let the winter frost break it up even more.

When digging, remove as many stones as possible - the roots like to grow without restriction.

Beetroot can also be grown in raised beds with other vegetables. Click here to go to our page on raised beds for more information.

Sowing Beetroot
Beetroot should be sown when the danger of hard frost has passed, mid-April is about right in . In order to avoid glut, plant in small batches up until mid-July. If you want beetroot crops three or four weeks earlier, use a small poly-tunnel or cloche. Simply place the poly-tunnel in position two weeks before sowing (to warm up the soil), then sow the seed three or four weeks earlier than normal. Click here to buy a poly-tunnel or cloche from GardenAction's recommended online supplier.

Warrior - globe type

Before sowing, soak the seeds in water for an hour or so. This will remove any chemicals present which has so far stopped them growing. Only soak enough seeds necessary for immediate planting.

With a trowel, scoop out a line in the soil about 2.5cm (1in) deep - where more than one line is to be planted, space each line about 30cm (1ft) apart. Space the seeds in the lines 5cm (2in) apart and cover with soil. Water if the soil is dry.

The seedlings will appear in about 15 days, depending on the weather. Each seed planted will result in a cluster of three or four seedlings. Remove the weakest seedlings, leaving only the strongest for each seed sown. When the seedlings reach 5cm (2in) high, thin them to their final distance apart. This is 10cm (4in) apart for round or globe varieties and 15cm (6in) apart for long varieties.

Care of Beetroot
The young seedlings may well attract the unwanted attention of birds. If your area is troubled, it is best to cover them in netting for a while or whatever is your best method. Clear plastic plastic bottles with the top and bottom cut off and placed over the seedlings when they emerge is a good method if you plant only a few seeds.

Beetroot will definitely appreciate a thorough watering if the conditions become dry. This will encourage them to grow quickly and the roots will be more tender and tasty. Luckily enough, little weeding should be required because the foliage of beetroot is dense enough to keep most weeds at bay.

One tip is to apply a light application of common or rock salt around the plants (avoid the foliage) when the seedlings are established. Beetroot does best near the sea and applying salt mimics these conditions.

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